Abstract
Objective: This study was performed to clarify the relationship between rhythms of daily living and nutritional status in elderly patients after medical treatment for acute diseases.
Methods: The study subjects were 21 elderly patients who transferred to the rehabilitation ward after medical treatment for acute diseases. Nutritional status was compared between the patients with and without rhythms of daily living disorder at the timing of transfer. In addition, the association between the change of rhythms of daily living and the change of nutritional status were examined in patients who had rhythms of daily living disorder at the transfer.
Results: Serum levels of total protein and albumin in patients with rhythms of daily living disorder were significantly lower than those without rhythms of daily living disorder. The nutritional statuses were improved in patients whose rhythms of daily living disorder disappeared. On the other hand, the nutritional statuses were not improved in patients whose rhythms of daily living disorder did not disappear.
Conclusion: The detail nutritional assessment and nutritional support are needed for the elderly patients who undergo medical treatment of acute diseases, since nutritional statuses were poor in elderly patients who had rhythms of daily living disorder after medical treatment for acute diseases.
