Energy and nutrient intake of elderly hospitalized patients in a steady metabolic status versus catabolic status

Protein undernutrition enhances frailty and aggravates intercurrent diseases generally observed in elderly patients. Undernutrition results from insufficient food intake and catabolic status. Daily nutrient intakes were explored for hospitalized geriatric patients. Nutrient intake (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and calcium) was determined in randomly selected geriatric patients (n=49) over five consecutive days by weighting food in the plate before and after meals. For each geriatric patient, catabolic status and risk factors of undernutrition were considered. Results were compared between patients in a steady status or catabolic status. In steady status patients, protein, lipid and carbohydrate intake but not calcium intake, met recommended dietary allowances (total caloric intake:1535 ± 370 Cal/day ; protein: 1± 0.4 g/kg/day ; carbohydrates:55 ±7.7 % ; lipids: 30 ± 6.3 % ; calcium:918 ±341 mg/day) . Patients in catabolic status (cardiopulmonary deficiency , neurologic disease , inflammatory process ) had lower total caloric intake, lower protein intake and dramatically lower calcium intake (total caloric intake : 1375 ± 500 Cal/day ; protein :0.9 ±0.4 g/kg/day ; carbohydrates : 54 ± 8.3 % ; lipids : 31 ± 6.2 % ; calcium : 866 ± 379 mg/day). Nutrient intake was lower in elderly patients hospitalized in short stay care units, perhaps due to failure to recognize suitable nutrient requirements. Protein-caloric undernutrition should be diagnosed early during hospitalization in order to allow appropriate dietary supplementation. However the incidence of protein undernutrition among elderly patients as a cause or a consequence of adverse pathophysiological processes remains a cause of debate.