Protein-calorie malnutrition in a community hospital
M. D. Willard, R. B. Gilsdorf and R. A. Price
An assessment of protein-calorie status was performed on 200 consecutive
adult nonobstetric admissions to a private hospital from two group family
practices. Anthropometric measurements, serum albumin level, and total
lymphocyte count were determined at admission and weekly if the patient
remained in the hospital. Nonnutritional factors affecting muscle protein
stores and serum albumin level were taken into account. A total of 63
patients (31.5%) were found to be malnourished. The most common conditions
associated with decreased protein stores were hypoxic cardiopulmonary
disease, gastrointestinal disease, neuromuscular or arthritic impairment,
organic brain syndrome, and febrile illness. Although nonnutritional
factors accounted for many instances of protein depletion, expecially
milder degrees of depletion, nevertheless protein calorie malnutrition was
highly prevalent in this population.
