Incidence and recognition of malnutrition in hospital
BMJ 1994; 308 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.308.6934.945 (Published 09 April 1994) Cite this as: BMJ 1994;308:945
- J P McWhirter,
- C R Pennington
- Correspondence to: Mrs McWhirter
- Accepted 11 January 1994
Abstract
Objectives : To determine incidence of malnutrition among patients on admission to hospital, to monitor their changes in nutritional status during stay, and to determine awareness of nutrition in different clinical units.
Design : Prospective study of consecutive admissions.
Setting : Acute teaching hospital.
Subjects : 500 patients admitted to hospital: 100 each from general surgery, general medicine, respiratory medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and medicine for the elderly.
Main outcome measures: Nutritional status of patients on admission and reassessment on discharge, review of case notes for information about nutritional status.
Results : On admission, 200 of the 500 patients were undernourished (body mass index less than 20) and 34% were overweight (body mass index >25). The 112 patients reassessed on discharge had mean weight loss of 5.4% with greatest weight loss in those initially most undernourished. But the 10 patients referred for nutritional support showed mean weight gain of 7.9%. Review of case notes revealed that, of the 200 undernourished patients, only 96 had any nutritional information documented.
Conclusion : Malnutrition remains a largely unrecognised problem in hospital and highlights the need for education on clinical nutrition.
Footnotes
- Accepted 11 January 1994