Évaluation des apports alimentaires des malades hospitalisésFood intakes in in-hospital patients

Studies have shown that malnutrition may affect more than 50% of hospitalized patients. They observe a further deterioration in nutritional status during hospital stay. This deterioration may be explained by imbalance between energy and protein needs and low voluntary intake by patients. Although underfeeding is often attributable to disease or treatments, authors observe that more than 50% of causes are imputable to inadequate organization. This results in high food wastage with medical and economical consequences whose rate may be greater than 40%. Improvements of dietary intakes depend on the development of a screening and assessment system. This includes to promote an educational program for doctors and nurses, to modify the hospital diet according to the patients’ preferences and needs, to help and monitor dietary intakes in patients with undernutrition at admission or at risk of malnutrition.