Feeding the Patient at Nutritional Risk: Does the Clinical Outcome Improve?

Feeding the Patient at Nutritional Risk: Does the Clinical Outcome Improve?

The aim of the present study is to take stronger action in solving the problems of malnutrition in the hospital setting and in the first two months after patient's discharge. The main objective is to evaluate the clinical benefit (eg. QoL, body composition and body function) of nutritional intervention (nutritional therapy) in a sample of patients at nutritional risk according to the NRS 2002.

Inclusion Criteria:

• all patients coming on station

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with a screening total score <3 according to the NRS-2002 system
• less than 18 years of age, expected hospital stay less than 4 days
• expected survival less than 1 month
• pregnant or lactating women
• patients with psychiatric disorders
• patients with cardiac failure as defined by the Goldmann classification class >II (recent rest pain, unstable angina pectoris)
• patients with respiratory failure (Peak Flow Rate: PEFR <50%)
• patients with hepatic dysfunction (Child >A)
• patients suffering from an intestinal obstruction or ileus
• patients with renal failure (creatinine >250 μmol/l) or receiving haemodialysis
• patients that are already receiving, or are planned to receive parenteral nutrition
• patients unable to understand the German language