The modern nutritional rehabilitation of people with disabilities

Aim of the study: Approximately 600,000 handicapped live in Hungary. In 283 disabled person's home care more than 16,000 of them. The authors analyzed their nutritional status, nutrition and catering in a representative sample.

Patients, methods: The authors used the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) developed by the Malnutrition Advisory Group (MAG), for the screening of the nutritional status of Hungarian handicapped patients who live in social institutions (n=377, 46.7% male; 53.3% female; mean age 45.4±13.6) and used a questionnaire to record data about their nutritional parameters and health status.

Results: On the basis of BMI value 9.1% of the patients are at risk of malnutrition. The rate of weight loss was 5–10% in 16 males and 20 females, more than 10% weight loss was recorded in 28 males and 19 females (16.0% of males, 9.5% of females). Involuntary weight loss affected 8.0% of males and 10.9% of females. The rate of unintended weight loss in males were 2.3% and in females 2.0% that were more than 10% of body weight. The acute illness could impede for five days or longer the traditional diet (per os) in 8.0% of males and 6.5% of females. The authors considered the criteria of MUST and find small risks of malnutrition in 259 patients (68.7%), medium risks in 46 patients (12.2%) and high risks in 72 patients (19.1%). Overall, the rate of patients at risk of malnutrition was 31.3%.

Conclusions: Handicapped, who live in social homes, have high risk of malnutrition. The fast and simple screening process of MUST have to be taken at time of moving in the social home. By the results – keeps in mind of the degree of disability – nutrition-nutritional therapy should be applied. The role of the dietitian is very important at the institution (who might need a specialized qualification). The nutritional rehabilitation starts with the nutritional screening. By the results, the guidelines of nutrition and if it is necessary a personal diet have to be determined. The last one is a part of the complex rehabilitation of handicapped.