Overweight and risk for undernutrition among persons within special accommodations and hospital care – Year 2005 and 2007

• Rationale: Both undernutrition and overweight have major impacts on morbidity and mortality and are thus important to prevent. This study explores the prevalence of undernutrition and overweight among persons in special accommodations (SAs) and hospital care in the year of 2005 and 2007. Methods: Six hospitals and all of the SAs within six municipalities were involved. In the year of 2005, 2600 (88%) out of 2945 persons agreed to participate in the study, and in 2007 there were 2255 (81%) out of 2784 persons participating. Risk for undernutrition was defined as the occurrence of at least two of the following; involuntary weight loss, Body Mass Index (BMI) below limit (<20 if /=70 yrs) and/or presence of eating difficulties. Overweight was defined based on BMI (if /=25: if >/=70 yrs: BMI >/=27)[1]. Nursing students, clinical tutors and staff collected the data. Results: The mean age and the risk for undernutrition increased significantly in SAs between the two years. The prevalence of overweight increased withthree percent in hospitals as well as in SAs although this increase was not statistically significant. Table: Percent of persons at risk for undernutrition and with overweight   SAs2005 (n=1726) SAs2007 (n=1526) P-value Hospitals2005 (n=874) Hospitals2007 (n=728) P-value   Agemean (SD) 85 (8) 86 (8) <0.001 69 (18) 69 (16) 0.987 At risk forundernutrition 27 35 <0.001 27 28 0.947 Overweight 30 33 0.089 39 42 0.182   SAs = Special Accommodations Conclusion: The society in general and health care professionals in specific needs to consider not only prevention for persons at risk for undernutrition, but also the prevention for persons becoming overweight. Reference(s) Only 3 Lines maximum: 1. Westergren A, Lindholm C, Axelsson C & Ulander K. Prevalence of eating difficulties and malnutrition among persons within hospital care and special accommodations. The Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging 2008, Vol 12, Number 1, Page 39-43.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Näringslära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nutrition and Dietetics (hsv//eng)

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