NUTRITIONAL RISK IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS WITH NEOPLASMS

Abstract

Objective: To investigate nutritional risk in hospitalized older adults with neoplasms. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected the following data from 142 older patients: gender, age, length of hospital stay (LHS), death outcome, and nutritional status indicators, such as body mass index (BMI), nutritional risk screening (NRS), subjective global assessment (SGA), and energy intake. The statistical analyses included the tests chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Mann-Whitney’s at a significance level of 5%. Results: According to the NRS, 42.25% of the patients were at nutritional risk, and according to the SGA, 40.14% of the patients were malnourished. A total of 6.34% of the patients died. Death outcome was significantly associated with gender (p=0.0408); SGA (p=0.0301); NRS (p=0.0360); and LHS (p=0.0043). Nutritional risk (NRS) was significantly associated with SGA and BMI (p<0.0001), and LHS (p=0.0199). Conclusion: Death outcome was more common in malnourished patients, patients at nutritional risk, and patients with longer LHS. Nutritional risk was associated with malnutrition (SGA), BMI, and longer LHS. Hence, early nutritional care should be provided routinely in the hospital care of hospitalized older patients.