Sammanfattning
Background: The consequences of malnutrition in patients with stroke are investigated in few, small studies. The purpose of this study is to examine the incidence of poor nutritional status and dysphagia in stroke patients, and the consequences for the short term prognosis.
Methods: Case records at the stroke unit at Hvidovre University Hospital were reviewed by audit. Nutritional baseline characteristics were correlated to mortality, pneumonia, nutrition and dysphagia. Results: The study included 77 patients. Of these 49% had dysphagia at admittance and 50% were nutritionally at-risk at the initial screening. There was significant correlations between being nutritional at-risk and mortality, pneumonia, prior stroke, hospitalization from nursing home or similar, and discharge to nursing home or similar. There was correlation between dysphagia and mortality, pneumonia and weight loss *5%.
Conclusions: Nutritional screening and therapy in the acute state is essential. A particular focus should be kept on patients admitted from institutions.