Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders

Abstract

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in hospitalized elders, related to socio-demographic variables, nutritional status and length of stay. Methods: 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.

Hospital and Homecare Malnutrition and Nutritional Therapy, in Brazil. Strategies for Alleviating it: A Position Paper

“…However, in a subset of patients 60 years of age and older assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment, 32.9% were considered to be at risk of malnourishment, and 11.0% were considered to be malnourished (8). Employing the Mini Nutritional Assessment and a serum albumin assay, in a study with 200 hospitalized elderly patients (mean age, 72.6 ± 8.3 years) at a university hospital in Erechin, RS, Brock et al (2016) (9) found that 87% of the assessed patients had hypoalbuminemia, 43% were at risk of malnutrition, and 21.5% were malnourished (9).…”

Prevalencia de malnutrición y factores asociados en adultos mayores del cantón Gualaceo, Ecuador

“…Los adultos mayores que tienen compromiso proteico principalmente de albúmina presentan mayor riesgo de malnutrición, así lo confirma la American College of Surgery, la cual observa una asociación entre hipoalbuminemia y malnutrición y la correlaciona con complicaciones en geriátricos con trauma HR 2,1 (IC95%: 1,1-3,8) 23 . La prevalencia de hipoalbuminemia se muestra elevada, probablemente secundario a una ingesta proteica inadecuada, trastornos en la deglución, alteraciones gastrointestinales y/o endocrinológicas frecuentes en este grupo etario, afectando aproximadamente al 9% de los adultos mayores p<0,001, así lo demuestra Brock et al 2016, en su estudio de prevalencia de hipoalbuminemia y aspectos nutricionales pacientes geriátricos 24 . En el presente estudio se corrobora esta asociación RP 2,87 (IC95%: 1,08-4,58; p<0,001).…”

Surgical Outcome and Hepatic Regeneration after Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Elderly Patients

“…Aging changes the liver, and the ability to synthesize albumin and other proteins is reduced in elderly people [28]. Elderly people also exhibit decreased secretion and delayed excretion of bile [29].…”