Assessment of nutritional status of adult liver disease patients in mulago hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: The assessment of nutritional status is an internationally recognised practice that can help in easily identifying the patient’s nutritional needs. Malnutrition is common in patients with liver disease. The survival and quality of life in these patients is adversely affected by malnutrition. But the management of patients with liver disease in mulago hospital does not adequately address correction of nutritional status. The study generated nutritional status data that can help in guiding clinicians to manage the nutrition of these patients. Objective: To determine the nutritional status of adult patients with liver diseases in mulago hospital. Methods and materials: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in mulago hospital for 4 months. A total of 246 subjects were selected consecutively from the out and in-patients departments. Their anthropometric measurements including heights, weights, TSF and MAC were measured and subsequently used to calculate BMI and MAMC. Information about the subjects dietary intake and liver disease status were obtained using a structured questionnaire and a modified mini assessment scheme which was administered by the researcher. Results: Most of the participants 138 (56.10%) were severely malnourished, 104 (42.28%) were moderately malnourished and only 4 (1.62%) were adequately nourished. Conclusion: The results showed that the nutritional status of liver disease patients in mulago hospital is poor with most of the patients being malnourished and only a small percentage being adequately nourished. Recommendations: The information should be brought to the concern of health care service providers especially those who manage liver diseases. Standard operating procedure and guidelines need to be developed to address the specific needs of liver disease patients.