Abstract
Nutritional status in respiratory patients can influence on the symptoms and disease prognostic. Malnutrition worsens the quality of life of these patients and increases morbidity and mortality.
AIM: To analyse nutritional status, in terms of serum albumin and body mass index (BMI), of the patients admitted to our Respiratory Department.
MATERIAL AND METHODE: We have revised medical reports of patients hospitalised in our Respiratory from January 2011 to October 2012. Anthropometric variables and analytical parameters (serum albumin) were collected. The level of albumin was considered normal between 3.5-4.5 g/dl, mild depletion between 2.8-3.5 g/dl, moderate between 2.1-2.7 d/dl and severe <2.1 g/dl. A BMI<21 kg/m2 was considered malnutrition.
RESULTS: We included 591 in-hospital patients (72% men, mean age 64±15 years) with BMI 28±7Kg/m2. Serum albumin was measured in 336 patients (57%): 204 had normal values, 130 mild depletion, 30 moderate depletion and 2 severe depletion. BMI was<21Kg/m2 in 13% of patients. Days of hospitalisation in patients with some degree of malnutrition were superior to those well-nourished (13±12 vs 8±5 days, p 0,000). 65 patients (11%) died. They were older (68±10 vs 64±16 years; p 0,02) and with lower BMI (24,3 ±5 vs 28±7 Kg/m2), although only 6 had BMI <21Kg/m2. Half of the patients who died (50%) had serum albumin under normal values (12 mild, 6 moderate and 1 severe depletion) vs 36% of the patients who do not die.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. Malnutrition is frequent in hospitalised respiratory patients. 2. Malnutrition influences in hospitalised stay and mortality.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016