Evaluation of Nutritional Therapy in a Palliative Care Unit: Benefit Specially for Primarily Malnourished Patients and Patients with Reduced Oral Food Intake

Background: Nutritional problems reduce the quality of life. Due to earlier involvement of palliative care the treatment of nutritional problems becomes increasingly relevant to palliative care units. In the present study dietary status, nutritional problems and the importance of dietetic treatment at the palliative care unit have been studied. The established scores were examined for their performance in the setting of a palliative care unit. Methods: Patient-survey on admission and at discharge. Also a nutritional risk screening was performed. The patients were treated according to indications. Results: There are complete records of 125 patients (during the period 5/11 – 7/12). 74 % of the respondents indicated nutrition and digestion problems. 58 % of the patients had a manifest malnutrition and another 14 % had a risk. Compared to the admittance, there was a statistically significant improvement in recording appetite and enjoyment on eating of the malnourished (p = 0.029; p = 0.046) and of patients with ≤ 50 % of normal oral feeding (p = 0.041; p = 0.044). All in all the quality of life has improved significantly. 94 % of the respondents were very satisfied/satisfied with the nutritional therapeutic care. Conclusion: Screening at a palliative care unit is practicable and important. A nutritional risk screening with 3 questions (pre-screening NRS) is recommended. An algorithm for the integration of nutritional therapy is useful. The nutritional view should also be considered in palliative medicine.