Elderly Feeding and Nutrition during Hospitalization: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Objective: to search in the current literature the elements that exert an influence on feeding and nutrition in hospitalized aged people. Method: the following strategies were used for the integrative review stages: research question (Population or Patients; Exposure; Outcomes); analysis flowchart (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses); and levels of evidence corresponding to the studies (Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine). The searches were conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus databases. Results: the initial search yielded 1808 studies, of which 34 comprised the analysis corpus after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The assessments corresponding to nutritional status and to the risk factors for hospitalized aged people are fundamental in defining the diet. An association was found between inadequate energy intake, lack of appetite, infections, malignity, delirium and need for assistance in feeding. Dysphagia affected nutritional status and was associated with multimorbidities, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, higher dependence for the activities of daily living, and greater care need. Nutritional support improved the perioperative nutritional status, in addition to reducing the hospitalization times and the number of infectious complications. Conclusion: the main disorder that hinders meeting the nutritional needs is dysphagia, and is associated with aged people's multimorbidity and dependence. The results provide geriatric and gerontological knowledge about elderly nutrition, in addition to targeting preventive and intervention treatments and care during hospitalization.