Resumen

ORTIZ SAAVEDRA, Pedro Jose, MENDEZ SILVA, Francisco Jose, VARELA PINEDO, Luis et al. Variación del estado nutricional del paciente adulto mayor durante la hospitalización en los servicios de medicina de un hospital general. Rev Med Hered, ene./mar 2007, vol.18, no.1, p.4-9. ISSN 1018-130X.

Many factors increase the undernutrition prevalence in elderly hospitalized patients and also cause in-hospital undernutrition. Objective: To find the hospitalization effect in elderly patient’s nutritional status. Material and Methods: Descriptive and prospective study that follows a group of elderly medical patients collecting anthropometrical and biochemical data at entry and discharge looking for changes. Results: At entry we found undernutrition in 47.8%, hypoalbuminemia in 80%, anemia in 76%, lymphopenia in 51% and a low levels of B¹² vitamin in 7%. We found a decrease of anthropometrical and albumin values at discharge as well a correlative determination between these facts with age and hospitalization time. Conclusion: The hospitalization results as a negative factor for the nutritional status of the elderly patients.(Rev Med Hered 2007;18:3-9).

Palabras llave: Aged adults; malnutrition; public hospital.