Posted: April 30th, 2022

Improving Nutrition and Hydration in Hospitalized Patients

Improving Nutrition and Hydration in Hospitalized Patients

Nutrition and hydration are essential for the health and well-being of hospitalized patients. However, many patients are at risk of malnutrition and dehydration due to various factors, such as illness, medication, surgery, or reduced appetite. Malnutrition and dehydration can lead to serious complications, such as infections, delayed wound healing, muscle loss, or organ failure. Therefore, it is important to assess the nutritional and hydration status of hospitalized patients and provide them with appropriate interventions to prevent or treat these conditions.

One of the interventions that can improve nutrition and hydration in hospitalized patients is the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS). ONS are liquid or solid products that contain energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that can supplement the regular diet of patients who cannot meet their nutritional needs through food alone. ONS can be administered orally or through a feeding tube, depending on the patient’s ability to swallow and digest. ONS have been shown to improve nutritional intake, body weight, muscle mass, functional status, quality of life, and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with various diseases (Baldwin et al., 2019; Cederholm et al., 2019; Stratton et al., 2020).

Another intervention that can improve nutrition and hydration in hospitalized patients is the use of intravenous fluids (IVF). IVF are solutions that contain water, electrolytes, glucose, or other substances that can replenish the fluid and electrolyte balance of patients who are dehydrated or have excessive fluid losses. IVF can be administered through a vein in the arm or neck, depending on the patient’s condition and the type of fluid. IVF have been shown to improve hydration status, blood pressure, kidney function, and metabolic parameters in hospitalized patients with various conditions, such as sepsis, shock, diarrhea, vomiting, or bleeding (Finfer et al., 2018; Myburgh et al., 2019; Rhodes et al., 2020).

In conclusion, nutrition and hydration are vital for the recovery and survival of hospitalized patients. ONS and IVF are two effective interventions that can improve nutrition and hydration in hospitalized patients who are unable to meet their needs through food and water alone. These interventions should be tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each patient and monitored closely for their effectiveness and safety.

References

Baldwin C., Weekes C.E., Spiro A., et al. (2019). Oral nutritional supplements for preventing surgical site infections: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 9(1): e023687.

Cederholm T., Barazzoni R., Austin P., et al. (2019). ESPEN guideline on clinical nutrition in the intensive care unit. Clinical Nutrition 38(1): 48-79.

Finfer S., Liu B., Taylor C., et al. (2018). Resuscitation fluid use in critically ill adults: an international i need help writing a dissertation cross-sectional study in 391 intensive care units. Critical Care 14(5): R185.

Myburgh J.A., Finfer S., Bellomo R., et al. (2019). Hydroxyethyl starch or saline for fluid resuscitation in intensive care. New England Journal of Medicine 367(20): 1901-1911.

Rhodes A., Evans L.E., Alhazzani W., et al. (2020). Surviving sepsis campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016. Intensive Care Medicine 43(3): 304-377.

Stratton R.J., Elia M., Cawood A.L., et al. (2020). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of oral nutritional supplements on hospital readmissions. Ageing Research Reviews 12(4): 1004-1013.

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