Enteral nutrition in nursing home residents: a 5-year (2001-2005) epidemiological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite controversy and increasing use of enteral nutrition (EN) among elderly people, descriptive population-based data are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological data of nursing home residents (NHRs) who received EN in a northeast area of Italy. METHODS: All NHRs referred to our Nutrition Service for EN between 2001 and 2005 were enrolled. Data collected at EN initiation included age, gender, underlying disease, Karnofsky index, type of enteral access device, presence of pressure ulcers, weight, body mass index, and daily enteral intake. The outcomes considered were patient survival and duration of therapy. RESULTS: The 482 NHRs (130 males; 352 females) received EN. The mean incidence (cases/million population/year) and prevalence (cases/million population) were 223.4 and 279.4, respectively. An average of 6.6% of all NHRs were tube fed. EN was prescribed for the following conditions: 27.7% cerebrovascular accident, 54.6% neurodegenerative disease, 2.7% head and neck cancer, 1.2% abdominal cancer, 1.3% head trauma, 4.8% congenital disease, 7.7% other. Almost all patients had a Karnofsky index