THE EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ASSESSMENT BY PREALBUMIN ON FIM SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH FALL AND FRACTURE

Abstract

Abstract Fall is leading cause of injury in elderly persons. Nutritional status is an important aspect of elderly life that influences quality of life in patients with fall and fractures. To evaluate the effects of nutritional assessment by prealbumin level on Functional Independence Measures (FIM) and Length of Stay (LOS)in elderly population with fall and fracture in rehabilitation hospital. : This study design was a one group pretest-posttest without a control group. Seventy one patients (n=71) 65 years or older with a diagnosis of fall and fracture recruited. Nutritional status was evaluated using the pre-albumin levels. Nutritional intervention implemented for participants who had prealbumin level of 18>mg/dl. Outcomes measures were discharge FIM scores and LOS. Fifty four patients (76%) were required nutritional interventions. Prealbumin levels, FIM scores, and food intake were significantly improved from admission to the discharge, for Prealbumin levels, t (71) = 7.53, p<0.01; X= 14.97 versus 19.42, and for total FIM scores, t (71) =21.45, p<0.01; X=1.82 versus 4.41. There was no significant correlation found between prealbumin changes and improved total FIM scores. Improved total FIM scores and self-care has significant negative correlations with LOS (r= -0.46, p<0.01) and (r=-0.47, p<0.01) respectively. Fifty six patients (78.9%) gained prealbumin with a mean gain of 6.1 mg/dl. Prealbumin gain was associated with higher FIM scores and lower LOS. : In patients who suffered a fall with resulting fracture, improving nutritional status is associated with improvement of functional levels and a decreased length of stay in rehabilitation hospital.