DIETARY-INTAKE AND NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF ELDERLY PATIENTS IN A CONTINUING CARE HOSPITAL UNIT - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

An assessment was made of the clinical and nutritional status, and dietary intake of 23 men and 28 women in a long stay hospital unit, and repeated six months later. Initial anthropometric and laboratory indices of nutrition were within normal limits and did not change over the observation period. Initial intakes of energy and protein were low, but compatible with the reduced level of activity among subjects. Iron intakes were low but those for ascorbic acid and thiamine were satisfactory. There was a marginal fall in the intakes of all nutrients over six months, but this was not statistically significant. There were no relevant associations between clinical variables and poor nutritional intake. Our conclusion is that the nutritional status of our patients was satisfactory. This may relate to the high input of our dietician and may not apply to all units throughout the United Kingdom.