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. 2025 Jan 12;17(2):261.
doi: 10.3390/nu17020261.

Prescribed Hospital Diet Influence on Dietary Intake of Hospitalised Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Joana Gameiro  1 , Raquel Oliveira  2   3   4 , Ana Lúcia Baltazar  1   5 , Clara Rocha  1   6 , Marta Pereira  2 , Diana Martins  1   7   8   9 , João P M Lima  1   7   10 , Fernando Mendes  1   7   8   9   11
Affiliations

Prescribed Hospital Diet Influence on Dietary Intake of Hospitalised Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Joana Gameiro et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: The dietary intake of hospitalised patients is often compromised during hospitalisation, which can be a causal factor for hospital malnutrition. This is considered a public health problem worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of other complications.

Objectives: Our objective was to determine the dietary intake of hospitalised individuals and if the prescribed diet influences it.

Methods: Food intake data were collected from 299 lunches of patients admitted to a hospital, using the visual estimation method with a five-point scale. Three existing diets were considered, and the energy and macronutrient values of the meal were calculated. The minimum energy and protein requirements were also calculated.

Results: The components of the tray with the highest intake were soup and dessert; no significant differences were found between the percentage intake of each element and the prescribed diet. More than 50% of the individuals did not meet their minimum energy requirements, and only 36.5% had a protein intake that was within the recommendations.

Conclusions: Dietary intake is much lower than prescribed, and nutritionists need to act to reduce the prevalence of hospital malnutrition.

Keywords: food intake; hospitalised patients; malnutrition; visual estimation method.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean percentage of total intake of the tray components.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean percentage intake of tray components per diet.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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