Author(s): Gameiro, Joana ; Oliveira, Raquel ; Baltazar, Ana Lúcia ; Rocha, Clara ; Pereira, Marta ; Martins, Diana ; Lima, João P. M. ; Mendes, Fernando
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/13956
Origin: IC-online
Subject(s): food intake; malnutrition; hospitalised patients; visual estimation method
Background: The dietary intake of hospitalised patients is often compromised during hospitalisation, which can be a causal factor for hospital malnutrition. This is considered a public health problem worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of other complications. Objectives: Our objective was to determine the dietary intake of hospitalised individuals and if the prescribed diet influences it. Methods: Food intake data were collected from 299 lunches of patients admitted to a hospital, using the visual estimation method with a five-point scale. Three existing diets were considered, and the energy and macronutrient values of the meal were calculated. The minimum energy and protein requirements were also calculated. Results: The components of the tray with the highest intake were soup and dessert; no significant differences were found between the percentage intake of each element and the prescribed diet. More than 50% of the individuals did not meet their minimum energy requirements, and only 36.5% had a protein intake that was within the recommendations. Conclusions: Dietary intake is much lower than prescribed, and nutritionists need to act to reduce the prevalence of hospital malnutrition.
