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Management of malnutrition in geriatric trauma patients: results of a nationwide survey

  • Original Article
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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Prevalence of malnutrition in geriatric trauma patients ranges between 30 and 50 % in Germany. Malnutrition is associated with impaired wound healing, a prolonged in-hospital stay, reduced post-traumatic mobility, as well as a higher mortality. Thus, detection and improvement of nutritional status could be a fundamental contribution in optimizing the treatment of these patients.

Methods

We sent a web-based questionnaire to 579 German hospitals with traumatological expertise, seeking information on the institutional care level, number of beds, use of nutritional assessments, and use of defined laboratory parameters for the detection of malnutrition. Furthermore, we focused on the presence and frequency of nutrition ward rounds on the intensive care unit.

Results

We received 151 answers. Nutritional status was analysed in one-third (N = 50). The half of these 50 clinics (54 %, N = 27) were using the body mass index (BMI), 20 % (N = 10) were using the nutritional risk screening (NRS), and 14 % (N = 7) used the mini nutritional assessment. 38 hospitals indicated a regular nutrition ward round; 63 % of them occurred daily, 13 % had a weekly frequency, and 24 % were on demand. Laboratory parameters were used inhomogeneously. Except for the more frequent use of the NRS (p = 0.026) in local trauma centres, we found no significant difference in the detection of malnutrition according to the care level.

Conclusions

Although we know malnutrition is a frequent condition in geriatric patients, a minority of clinics considered it. The BMI and the NRS showed acceptance in practice; other parameters were used inhomogeneously. Although these findings may be limited in their significance, they indicate that the detection of malnutrition needs further investigation.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

FNA:

Full nutritional assessment

MNA:

Mini nutritional assessment

NRS:

Nutritional risk screening

SSM:

Screening sheet for malnutrition

TLC:

Total lymphocyte count

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Acknowledgments

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Philipps-University of Marburg, Baldinger Str, 35043, Marburg, Germany

    D. Eschbach, T. Kirchbichler, L. Oberkircher, S. Ruchholtz & B. Buecking

  2. Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    M. Knobe

  3. Department of Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Klinikstr. 33, 35385, Giessen, Germany

    M. Juenemann

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  1. D. Eschbach
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  2. T. Kirchbichler
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  3. L. Oberkircher
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  4. M. Knobe
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  5. M. Juenemann
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  6. S. Ruchholtz
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  7. B. Buecking
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Eschbach.

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Compliance with ethical standards

An official request was sent to our Institutional Review Board concerning the need for an ethical vote. This question was discussed in review board. According to decision, an ethical vote was not necessary, since we did not collect data from patients and/or concerning patients.

Conflict of interest

DE, TK, LO, MK, MJ SR, and BB declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Eschbach, D., Kirchbichler, T., Oberkircher, L. et al. Management of malnutrition in geriatric trauma patients: results of a nationwide survey. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 42, 553–558 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-016-0698-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-016-0698-x

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