1063 THE CHALLENGES OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE NUTRITION AND HYDRATION CARE TO HOSPITAL MEDICAL INPATIENTS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Nutrition and hydration are essential components of hospital inpatient care. Inadequate provision has been shown to be linked to poorer outcome. We performed a cross-sectional study of nutritional care in a London teaching hospital. Method Data collection was undertaken in October 2021 across two medical wards. Data for demographics; morbidity factors including: Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI), length of stay (LoS), cognitive score (AMTS); nutrition parameters and their recorded accuracy including: weight, ‘MUST’ score, fluid balance, food chart, and evidence of dietetic referral and review were examined. Results 52 patients were assessed [male 24/52 (46.15%), median age 80.5 (IQR 61.75–85.25, range 30–98)]. The median CCI score was 5, corresponding to 21.36% estimated 10-year mortality, with median LoS of 8 days (IQR 3–15.25). AMTS was recorded in 12/52 (23.08%). Variable recording of nutrition parameters was observed (weight: 57.69%, ‘MUST’ score 23.1%, fluid balance 63.5%, food chart 15.4%). Only 54.6% of the recorded fluid balance charts were clinically accurate. Where oral nutritional supplement (ONS) was prescribed, 57.1% (8/14) of patients had not received a dietetic review. Upon comparison the care of the elderly ward demonstrated a significantly higher accuracy of fluid balance chart (60% vs 46%, p < 0.001). Discussion Supporting patients to meet nutrition and hydration goals is a core component of clinical care. Our results demonstrate that nutrition and hydration care is poorly documented across several parameters, and by inference, poorly delivered irrespective of age, co-morbidity or cognitive impairment. Less than 1/3 of patients had a formal nutrition screen suggesting that identification of patients at risk of malnutrition should be the priority for future work. An electronic health record allows easy access to data that can be used for improvement. As an achievable first step, an improvement in awareness of nutritional scores, such as MUST, will be important in identification of malnutrition.