See HG, Tan YR, Au-Yeung KL, Bennett MH, et al.
Diving and hyperbaric medicine. Date of publication 2018 Dec 24;volume 48(4):229-234.
1. Diving Hyperb Med. 2018 Dec 24;48(4):229-234. doi: 10.28920/dhm48.4.229-234.
Assessment of hyperbaric patients at risk of malnutrition using the Malnutrition
Screening Tool - a pilot study.
See HG(1)(2), Tan YR(1), Au-Yeung KL(3), Bennett MH(4).
Author information:
(1)Division of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Singapore General
Hospital, Singapore.
(2)Corresponding author: Block 6 Level 2, Anaesthesiology Office, Singapore
General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, see.hooi.geok@singhealth.com.sg.
(3)Department of Accident and Emergency, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
(4)Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital,
Sydney, Australia.
BACKGROUND: Nutritional assessment and support is essential for wound management.
The hyperbaric oxygen clinic is a unique outpatient service where chronically
unwell patients present daily for hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) over several
weeks, allowing time for effective nutritional intervention. This is the first
study to examine the prevalence of those at risk of malnutrition in a cohort of
hyperbaric medical patients.
METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken over six months. Following consent,
39 enrolled patients had the Malnutrition Screening Tool and Baseline
Characteristic Collection Form completed. Those at risk of malnutrition were
given an option to be assessed by a dietitian to complete a Subjective Global
Assessment (SGA). At the completion of treatment, the patients completed a
questionnaire.
RESULTS: Twelve of the 39 patients screened were at risk of malnutrition using
our screening process. Of these, all the patients with available SGA results were
diagnosed with moderate to severe malnutrition. Patients receiving HBOT for
non-healing wounds and osteoradionecrosis were most at risk of malnutrition.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of patients being at risk of malnutrition in our
hyperbaric medical service was about one in three. Malnutrition screening should
be part of routine patient assessment in order to ensure patients receive timely
nutritional intervention. This may improve wound healing.
Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and
Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic
and other forms.
DOI: 10.28920/dhm48.4.229-234
PMCID: PMC6355311 [Available on 2019-12-24]
PMID: 30517955 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
