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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Inadequate caloric intake: a risk factor for mortality of geriatric patients in the acute-care hospital | | Author(s) | R Antonelli Incalzi, O Capparella, A Gemma |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 27, no 3, May 1998 |
| Pages | pp 303-310 |
| Keywords | Nutrition ; Malnutrition ; Hospital services ; Patients ; Italy. |
| Annotation | Protein and calorie malnutrition is common in older acute care hospital patients. This study aimed to compare the adequacy of nutritional support in surgical, medical and geriatric wards, and to assess correlates and prognostic implications of inadequate caloric intake. A total of 370 patients aged 70 years and over consecutively admitted to general surgery, general medicine and geriatric wards participated in the study. Results showed that the average daily caloric intake was 40%, 31% and 34% of that required in surgical, medical and geriatric wards, respectively. Patients at risk of starvation were identified by body mass index on admission and pre-admission dependency in activities of daily living (ADLs). Mortality was independently predicted by an actual/required caloric intake ratio below 40% in the first three days of stay and pre-admission dependency in at least one ADL. The study concluded that nutritional support to geriatric patients is frequently inadequate in the three types of wards, and that inadequate caloric intake is a co-contributor to the risk of hospital mortality. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-981208233 A |
| Classmark | CF: CSM: LD: LF: 76V |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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