Social Sciences | 2021
A Comparative Study Evaluating Improvements in Nutritional Status by Oral and Enteral Versus Parenteral Nutrition in Elderly Inpatients of an Emergency Hospital
Abstract
Aim: Elderly patients hospitalized in the internal medicine department who do not have sufficient oral nutritional intake and fall into low nutrition require artificial hydration and nutrition. Here, the effectiveness of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was compared to the nutritional administration methods for discharged patients. Methods: 508 elderly inpatients who were admitted to the internal medicine department of an emergency hospital and administered TPN over 9 years were divided into two groups: patients who were discharged (331) and those who died in the hospital (177). Patients were further divided into four groups at the time of discharge from the hospital: oral nutrition, enteral nutrition, peripheral parenteral nutrition and TPN. The effectiveness of TPN was evaluated using serum albumin level and the COntrolling NUTrition Status Score (CONUT) nutritional evaluation tool. Results: While the nutritional status of patients of oral and enteral nutrition improved upon discharge, the CONUT of TPN patients without oral or enteral nutrition did not improve and serum albumin levels of the patients deteriorated. Conclusion: To discharge patients alive and safe, efforts must be made to continue oral and enteral nutrition for as long as possible.