PROFILE NUTRITIONAL OF OLD ONES INTERNED IN HOSPITAL OF THE PRIVATE NET OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY OF HEALTHY OF SÃO PAULO CITY, SP

Abstract

The nutritional state of the hospitalized patient is associated with its clinical evolution and capacity of reaction to the pathological process. The patient with low weight presents the greatest rates of morbidity and mortality and greatest infectious and postoperative complications, with consequent increase of the hospital permanence. Being about aged, the picture can be more serious, therefore alterations in its physiological and psychological state have great influence in its nutritional state. Objectives: To evaluate the nutritional profile of elderly patients of a hospital in the private sector of the São Paulo city. Methods: The studied population was composed for 50 aged people above 65 years old, of both the sexes, interned in the period from March to April, 2007 in private hospital of São Paulo city. Anthropometrical evaluation was carried through, being classified according to Burr & Phillips (1984). The data tabulation was made in the Microsoft Office Excel 2007 worksheet. Results: Prevalence of the feminine sex in the studied population was verified. 18% of the aged ones had presented malnutrition and 30% had presented weight excess. It had greater prevalence of elderly patients with cancer (22%) being that, in this area of attendance it had greater number of patients with malnutrition (6%). In the period of superior internment the 30 days, prevalence of patients with malnutrition was verified (6%). Conclusion: it was verified that the malnutrition in particular hospital was lesser of that in hospitals of the public service. On the other hand, the weight excess was very significant. The main reason of the gotten results can be the best socioeconomic level presented by the studied population.