Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders

crosscutting study with 200 patients hospitalized in a large hospital in the South of Brazil during three months. Evaluations, lab tests and interviews through questionnaires were performed.

Results:

the average albuminemia was 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. Hypoalbuminemia was diagnosed in 173 subjects (87%) and was absent in 27 (13%) that have normal albuminemia (p=0,000). After six days of hospitalization, the prevalence of low levels grew significantly to 90% (p=0,002), average 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, it was observed that 41 patients were malnourished and from those, 40 had hypoalbuminemia.

Conclusion:

the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia proved to be high, in approx. nine in ten elders, and the nutritional status and the length of stay proved to be related to the decrease of serum albumin levels. Thus, it is suggested that monitoring albumin levels should be done to evaluate the risk that the patient has to develop malnutrition and other complications during hospital stays.

Descriptors:
Hypoalbuminemia; Hospitalization; Aging; Malnutrition; Health of the Elderly

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

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[1] Corresponding Author: Felipe Brock Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões Campus de Erechim Av. Sete de Setembro, 1621 Bela Vista CEP: 99.700-000, Erechim, RS, Brasil. E-mail: felipe.brock@hotmail.com

Albumin		Results of albuminemia (n=200)	Average/Standard deviation	p
At admission				0,000
Low		173 (87%)	2,8 ± 0,4
Normal		27 (13%)	3,7 ± 0,3
Six days after admission				0,000
	Low	110 (90%)*	2,6 ± 0,5
	Normal	12 (10%)*	3,7 ± 0,2

Results after six days	Results at admission		Total (n=122)*	p
	Hypoalbuminemia (n=106)	Normal Albumin (n=16)
Hypoalbuminemia	98 (89%)	12 (11%)	110	0,002
Normal Albuminemia	8 (67%)	4 (33%)	12	0,002

Mini Nutritional Assessment		Results of albumin at admission		Total (n=200)	p
Mini Nutritional Assessment		Hypoalbuminemia (n=173)	Normal Albumin (n=27)
Mini Nutritional Assessment					0,000
	Out of risk for malnutrition	58 (79%)	15 (21%)	73
	Risk for malnutrition	75 (87%)	11 (13%)	86
	Malnourished	40 (98%)	1 (2%)	41
Body Mass Index					0,119
	Low weight	43 (86%)	7 (14%)	50
	Eutrophic	69 (88%)	9 (12%)	78
	Overweight	61 (85%)	11 (15%)	71

Brasil

Brasil

Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders1 1 Paper extrated from Master's Thesis "Prevalência de hipoalbuminemia e fatores associados em idosos hospitalizados", presented to Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

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Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders^¹ 1 Paper extrated from Master's Thesis "Prevalência de hipoalbuminemia e fatores associados em idosos hospitalizados", presented to Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.