Nutritional assessment of critically ill Patients in intensive care units of Assiut University Hospital, Egypt

Abstract EN

Critical ill patients have specific-metabolic response to injury or disease that is characterized by an accelerated metabolic rate, rapid loss of fat and muscle mass.

The capacity for recovery from illness depends on nutritional status.

Poor nutritional status delays recovery, where as good nutritional status promotes healing and recovery.

Nutritional support is an integral part of therapy for critically ill patients each patient has unique nutritional needs depending on his injury or disease.

The nutritional care process is often performed during a comprehensive nutritional assessment by the dietitians with nursing personal to determine medical nutritional therapy.

The aim of the present study was an attempt to assess the nutritional status of the critically ill patients to identify nutritional problems and plan, deliver proper nutritional therapy.

The study was carried out at intensive care units (I.C.U) of Assuit University Hospital namely (general, trauma and chest I.C.U.s).

Study subjects were a sample of 150 patients who admitted to (I.C.U.) from both sex and from ages ranging from 15 to 60.

Two tools were designed and used to collect necessary data for this study.

The first tool which was used to elicit health status of patients included, demographic data, health status of patients, anthropometrics measurements and biochemical blood analysis.

The second tool performed the nutritional scoring tool which evaluates the nutritional status of critically ill patients.

The main results of this study were male and female patients of trauma and chest I.C.U.

recorded medium and good over all scoring system of their nutritional status.

Therefore the scoring evaluation of life style of general intensive care patients showed that both male and female patients recorded medium over all scoring system of their nutritional status.

The present study recommended that in I.C.U.

of Assiut University hospital a comprehensive nutritional assessment of the critically ill patients should be conducted by dietetic professionals, with medical and nursing personnels to determine appropriate medical nutritional therapy taking in consideration identified needs of the patients including anthropometrics, biochemical tests, clinical observations and diet evaluation scoring system