Long term effect of nutritional intervention in patients at risk of diseaserelated manutrition

Rationale: There is lack of evidence supporting long term effects of interventions from nutrition care on patients at risk of disease-related malnutrition (DRM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional intervention in patients at risk of DRM defined by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002. Methods: 63 patients were recruited from a rehabilitation institution in Norway to a controlled trial with historical control group (CG). CG was given nutritional treatment according to standard procedure. The intervention group (IG) received education focused on how to achieve and maintain a normal nutritional status during and after institutional care. End points analyzed were Nutritional Risk Score (NRS), body weight (BW), energy and protein intake and BMI. Data were collected on admission, at time of discharge (after approximately 2 weeks), and at 3 and 15 months after discharge. Results: Higher energy (p=0.00), (p=0.02) and protein (p=0.01), (p=0.04) intake was found in IG vs CG at discharge respectively at 3 months follow-up. Similarly, BW had increased at 3 months follow-up by 5,0% (p=0.00) as compared to CG. At 15 months follow-up the change in BW (p=0.00) was still significant in IG vs CG and had increased with 6,9%. Energy intake had decreased in IG and no difference was shown compared to CG after 15 months. Difference between groups in NRS-score was non-significant at all measures. Conclusion: The findings suggest that structured nutritional care was beneficial to patients at risk of DRM by improved energy and protein intake and long-term BW gain. However, energy intake decreased with time, indicating a need for a continuous follow up of nutrition care after discharge. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared Keywords: Disease-related malnutrition, Nutritional intervention