Browsing by Author "Costa, V"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Care causing diagnosis, comorbidities and nutritional status of patients in continuous long term care unitPublication . Marques, M; Gonçalves, V; Vieira, A; Magalhães, F; Godinho, J; Lemos, A; Costa, V; Faria, AnaIntroduction: Poor nutritional status has negative implications on prognosis, cost of care, morbidity and mortality. However, when nutritional assessment is not implemented, malnutrition can go untreated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between care causing diagnosis, existing comorbidities and nutritional status of patients admitted to a long-term care unit. Methods: In the context of Nutrition Day audit, from 2016 to 2018, nutritional status was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, as well as medical history were collected. Results: Sixty-two individuals were included (51.6% male), with a mean age of 7711 years. Mean BMI was 22.94.3kg/m2. Most of the patients were bedridden or in wheelchair (51.6%). A great part of the sample was at risk of malnutrition (40.3%) and 27.4% was malnourished. The majority of the sample showed dementia (75.8%) and 66.2% had depression. A correlation was found between nutritional status and cognitive status(r = 0.445; p = 0.000); and between nutritional status and functional capacity(r = 0.284; p = 0.025). Care causing diagnosis for most of the patients was central nervous system disease (66.1%), followed by heart disease (59.7%), skeletal muscle disease (30.6%) and cancer (17.7%). An association was found between heart disease and malnutrition (p = 0.023). Almost all of the sample was polymedicated (91.9%) and most was taking antypsychotics and/or neuroleptics (71.0%). Conclusions: In this long-term care unit, malnutrition presented a significant prevalence. Cognitive status decline and low functional capacity seem to be correlated with a worse nutritional status. Also, heart disease was associated with malnutrition, meaning that these are significant risk factors for the development of malnutrition. Nutrition Day audit brings awareness to the importance of nutritional care, as well as the need for development of nutritional screening and assessment protocols.
- Nutrition Day in nursing homes – risk factors for malnutritionPublication . Marques, M; Damas, M; Costa, E; Brás, M; Lemos, A; Costa, V; Faria, AnaIntroduction: Malnutrition in institutionalized older adults has a significant prevalence, and is associated with cognitive decline, higher morbidity and mortality rates. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for malnutrition in nursing home residents. Methods: Through Nutrition Day audit (2016–2018), demographic and anthropometric data was collected, as well as medical history and nutritional status according to Mini Nutritional Assessment. Results: Sixty-three individuals were included (57.1% male), with a mean age of 849 years. Mean Body Mass Index was 21.55.1 kg/m2. Malnutrition was identified in 47.6% of the patients and nutritional risk in 28.6%. Most of the sample (61.9%) was bedridden or in wheelchair. Most of the individuals showed dementia (82.5%) and depression (79.3%). A positive moderate significant correlation was found between nutritional status and cognitive status (r = 0.407;p=0.001); and between nutritional status and functional capacity (r = 0.474;p=0.000). Considering the diagnosis which caused institutionalization, brain pathologies were the most prevalent (79.4%), followed by cardiovascular diseases (49.2%) and skeletal muscle diseases (27.0%). Mean number of medications taken daily was 74 and 74.6% of the residents were polymedicated. The majority (61.9%) was taking antipsychotics and/or neuroleptics and 28.6% were taking antidepressives. Conclusions: In this sample, individuals are essentially older adults with a high prevalence of malnutrition. The high level of dependence and the presence of dementia are significant risk factors for the development of this condition. Disturbed emotional status and the use of multiple drugs associated with impaired appetite, although without statistically significant associations with nutritional status, are highly prevalent in this sample. Nutritional screening in this population is essential and timely necessary, aiming to prevent deterioration or improve nutritional status.