Evaluation of nutritional status of selected hospitalized patients

Abstract

Serum albumin, extractable protein per hair root, levels of vitamin A, C, and E, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and body weight were analyzed. There was a significantly increased frequency of low levels of each nutritional parameter in the hospitalized patients compared with the control group of employees, with 12 to 24% of the vocational rehabilitation patients and 17 to 45% of the medical service patients showing findings below the lower limits of normal. Analysis of the findings in patients in various diagnostic categories showed the highest frequency of evidence of malnutrition in those with alcoholic liver disease and the lowest frequency in patients admitted for complications of diabetes mellitus. Relatively selective deficiencies were found in some other groups; for example, the highest frequency of low ascorbic acid levels (42%) was found in patients with peptic ulcer disease. Comparison of protein/hair root findings with serum albumin concentration showed a similar level of sensitivity but greater specificity of the former determination in reflecting tissue protein deficiency.