Nutritional assessment of the spinal cord injured patient

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol. 78; no. 5; p. 501
• Main Authors: Peiffer, Suzanne C, Blust, Patricia, Leyson, Jose Florante J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1981
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Food; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Disorders - prevention & control; Risk; Spinal Cord Injuries - metabolism
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(21)04861-6
• ISSN: 0002-8223

The nutritional status of 18 patients with spinal cord injuries (9 paraplegics and 9 quadraplegics) was documented by means of anthropometric data, dietary analysis and biochemical data, to identify potential nutrition problems. The information collected was used to establish positive indicators of nutritional risk, including body weight more than 10% below standard, serum albumin less than 3 gm/dl, caloric and protein intakes less than calculated anabolic requirement, hemoglobin less than 12 gm/dl, hematocrit less than 37%, and creatinine-height index less than 60% of standard. The patients with quadraplegic injuries were even more at risk nutritionally than those with paraplegic injuries, although both groups should be evaluated regularly in an effort to avoid nutritional deficiencies