Analysis of the nutritional diagnosis of patients of infectious diseases in hospital care

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.2013373253258

Abstract

The relation between malnutrition and infection is known for a long time based on clinical and epidemiological data. Malnutrition
compromises the person’s immune defenses facilitating the installation of infectious processes. Moreover, recurrent
infection diseases affect nutritional condition. This study aimed to present an analysis of the nutritional diagnosis of patients with
infectious diseases during hospital admission. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted based on the medical records of 139
hospitalized patients. The BMI was used to determine the nutritional status. The reference values adopted for adults were: < 18.4
kg / m2 underweight, 18.5 and 24.9 kg / m2 normal weight and above 25.0 kg / m2 overweight, and for elderly: < 23.0 kg / m2
underweight, 23.0 to 28.0 kg / m2 normal weight and above this value overweight. The more present clinical diagnoses were:
HIV Positive / AIDS and Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Both analyzed groups (adults and elderly) had a deficit in nutritional condition:
the first with 47.4% prevalence and the second with 87.5%. Regarding offered nutritional therapy, 85% of the analyzed people
received nutritional therapy orally, while 12% received enteral nutrition and the 3% left received dietotherapeutic counseling
and/or adjusted hospital diet. The nutritional diagnosis of the patients was characterized by low weight in the groups – based
on BMI. Therefore, we could confirm that the presence of malnutrition among hospitalized patients with infectious diseases is
common and nutritional evaluation is of utmost importance for a diagnosis of this condition. Moreover, it is important to institute
adequate nutritional therapy earlier, providing a better quality of life.