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Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Professor emerita

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Nutritional status and associated factors on geriatric admission

Author

  • Ingrid Poulsen
  • Ingalill Rahm Hallberg
  • M Schroll

Summary, in English

Introduction: The proportion of elderly patients who are undernourished is high and undernutrition has serious health implications. No consensus exists regarding nutritional screening measurements suitable for elderly patients. There is a need to identify risk factors for undernutrition in elderly patients to enable prevention and treatment. Aim: To identify clinically identifiable risk factors for undernutrition in geriatric patients on admission. Methods: Newly admitted patients (n=196, mean age 83.7 years) were examined for nutritional risk factors by the nursing staff. Analyses of variance and multiple regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for undernutrition. Results: Undernutrition was present in 41% of the patients using a Body Mass Index cut-off <22 (kg/m(2)) as definition of undernutrition. Poor appetite, oral cavity problems, constipation and nausea or vomiting were frequent problems; the patients also used a high number of medical preparations, including preparations that induced nausea. No help with cooking before admission, poor appetite, oral cavity problems and high age were all significantly associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: To improve nursing care and to prevent undernutrition, it is recommended to routinely examine the patient's mouth and teeth on admission and to assess patients not only for their physical condition (appetite, oral health and nutritional status), but also for their living conditions e.g. help with cooking.

Department/s

  • Department of Health Sciences

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

84-90

Publication/Series

Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging

Volume

10

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Nursing

Keywords

  • Geriatric Clinic
  • elderly patients
  • nutritional status on admission
  • risk factors

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1279-7707