Oral nutritional supplements during acute illness and recovery reduced non-elective hospital readmissions in older patients
Q Does nutritional support during acute illness and recovery improve clinical outcome in older patients?
METHODS
Design:
randomised placebo controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients, healthcare providers, {data collectors, outcome assessors,}* and data analysts).
Follow up period:
6 months.
Setting:
{a hospital in South Yorkshire, UK}.*
Patients:
445 patients ⩾65 years of age (mean age 77 y, 53% men) who were admitted to hospital and able to swallow. Exclusion criteria were gastric surgery, malabsorption or morbid obesity (body mass index >40), coma, severe dementia (Abbreviated Mental Test Score <6), malignancy, current receipt of supplements, or residence in an institution.
Intervention:
usual hospital diet plus daily oral nutritional supplements, 200 ml twice daily, which provided 995 kcal …
