A short nutritional intervention in a cohort of hematological inpatients improves energy and protein intake and stabilizes nutritional status.

INTRODUCTION: Oncohematological diseases are associated with an important prevalence of malnutrition.

AIM: Our aim is to determine if early recognition and treatment of malnourished hematological inpatients can improve their oral intake, nutritional status and reduce the length of hospital stay.

METHODS: Prospective 2-year study conducted in a cohort of hematology inpatients. Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) was carried out on the first day of admission. Patients with a positive screening were recruited to have a complete nutritional evaluation and intervention, following usual clinical practice. Nutritional evaluation was repeated after one week.

RESULTS: Six hundred and seventeen hematological patients were screened (37.8% with positive screening). After one week, median diet intake increased from 80% to 90% (p < 0.001), and an increase of 407.36 Kcal (SD 679.37) and 17.58 g of protein (SD 31.97) was also achieved. More patients reached their energy and protein requirements (41.6 vs.% 63.3%, p = 0.009) and nutritional parameters remained stable. A trend to a lower stay (3.5 to 4.5 days less) was detected in the groups of patients who covered their needs.

CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of early malnutrition screening and short nutritional interventions improved energy and protein intake, increasing the percentage of patients who meet their requirements and avoiding deterioration of nutritional status.