Analysis of hospital feeding practices at Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi Vietnam (1015.7)

Background: Limited data on nutrition support practices in the hospital setting are available in the country of Vietnam. Methods: From October 2011-December 2011, a collaboration between investigators from the U.S. and the Vietnamese National Institute of Nutrition enrolled 72 subjects admitted for elective GI surgery for this observational study at Bach Mai Hospital, a major Hanoi teaching hospital. Baseline height, weight, BMI, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), body weight status, and daily kcal and protein/amino acid intake from oral diet, tube feeding, and IV feedings from admission until discharge were recorded. Results: Mean age of subjects was 56±15 years and length of stay 12±5 days. 50% of subjects scored a B or C (moderate to severe malnutrition) on the SGA. BMI range was 13-28; 48% had a BMI < 18.5. MUAC was low normal (24±4 cm). All subjects lost weight during admission. Almost all patients (98%) were fed using parenteral nutrition (PN) postoperatively wit...