Nutrients 2019, 11(4), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040790
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet, Malnutrition, Length of Stay and Mortality in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in Internal Medicine Wards
Aurelio Lo Buglio †, Francesco Bellanti *,†
, Cristiano Capurso, Annalisa Paglia and Gianluigi Vendemiale
, Cristiano Capurso, Annalisa Paglia and Gianluigi Vendemiale
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, viale Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These Authors equally contributed to the manuscript.
Received: 5 March 2019 / Revised: 4 April 2019 / Accepted: 4 April 2019 / Published: 5 April 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Dietary Intake, Aging, Liver Disease and Cancer)
Abstract
This investigation aimed to explore the adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and its relationship with length of stay and in-hospital mortality, circulating interleukins, body composition, and frailty, in elderly patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards. Thus, a cross-sectional study in 194 acute hospitalized, community-dwelling elderly patients was performed. Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet was evaluated by the Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI). Length of stay, but not in-hospital mortality rate, was higher in patients with a low IMI score, as compared to subjects with high IMI score. Markers of systemic inflammation, as well as circulating interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were higher in patients with a low IMI score, with respect to patients with high IMI score. Furthermore, patients with low IMI score had increased fat mass and reduced lean mass, together with a higher prevalence of frailty, as compared to those presenting with high IMI score. In a multivariate logistic regression model, an IMI score < 3 resulted as an independent predictor of longer length of stay. In conclusion, low adherence to a Mediterranean Diet in elderly patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards is associated with higher length of stay and related to unfavorable changes in circulating pro-inflammatory markers and body composition. View Full-Text
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Lo Buglio, A.; Bellanti, F.; Capurso, C.; Paglia, A.; Vendemiale, G. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet, Malnutrition, Length of Stay and Mortality in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in Internal Medicine Wards. Nutrients 2019, 11, 790.
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