Levantamento do estado nutricional e de complicações associadas à terapia nutricional enteral domiciliar em idosos

Abstract

Introduction: The high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and neurodegenerative diseases in elderly has been increasing the hospitalizations risk and, consequently, the malnutrition risk, which leads to a greater need for enteral tube feeding (ETF). Thus, this article aims to conduct a survey about nutritional status and complications related to home enteral tube feeding (HETF) in elderly. Methods: This is a descriptive observational study conducted in a medium-sized municipality of Greater São Paulo (Metropolitan region). To collect data, a survey of medical records and home visits was carried out from January 2012 to April 2018. Patients aged 60 years and over who had information on bowel habits, presence of pressure ulcers, position of feeding tube and anthropometric data of calf circumference (CC) and arm circumference (AC) were eligible. The values found for CC and AC were interpreted according to the reference cut-off points. Results: The study included 43 elderly people, 67.4% female and 32.6% male. The nasogastric feeding tube was present in 62,8% of the patients. Pressure ulcer was the most prevalent (58.1%) complications associated with HETF. Diarrhea was present in 4.7% of the elderly and constipation in 44.2%. In regard of nutritional status, muscle mass depletion was present in 88.4% of the elderly and severe mass deficit in 62.9% of them. Conclusions: The assessment of the nutritional status and complications associated with HETF in elderly showed that more than a half had some muscle mass deficit and the pressure ulcer was the most prevalent complication, followed by constipation and diarrhea.