Determination of the nutritional status and biochemical parameters of the hospitalized burn patients

Our study aimed to determine the nutritional status and biochemical parameters of the hospitalized burn patients. The study was carried out at the Burns Treatment Center of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital between November 1st 2012 and March 1st 2013 and among the hospitalized patients, 59 patients composed of 43 male and 16 female at the age range of 19 to 64 was included. Burn severity of the patients was recorded from patient charts. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters of the patients were measured and the nutritional status of the patients was determined by NRS 2002 form and 7-days food consumption records. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation of the patients were assessed by APACHE II scoring. The mean age of the patients was 41±14.87 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients at the beginning and the end of the study was 26.40±4.65 kg/m2 and 26.21±4.86 kg/m2, respectively. The mean mid arm circumference of the patients was 30.82±3.89 cm at the beginning and 30.67±3.56 cm at the end of the study. The triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) of the patients at the beginning and at the end of the study were 12.38±6.34 mm and 12.15±6.29 mm, respectively. While mean basal metabolic rate of females was 1416.93±109.32 kcal regarding Harris Benedict equations, it was 1655.76±163.02 kcal in males. The mean total energy requirements of the females was 2417.53±180.29 kcal and it was 2909.21±380.37 kcal in males. The total energy requirements of the patients according to the Curreri equation were 1912.46±259.71 kcal in women and 2428.50±833.39 kcal in men. When the daily nutrient consumptions of patients? were evaluated, 56.3% of women and 55.6% of men consumed all their diets served in the hospital. The mean energy of the diets served in the hospital was 1861±88.20 kcal, and the ratio of the carbohydrates, proteins and fats composing total energy was 45.1%, 17.1% and 37.3%, respectively. Most of the patients (93.8% of women and 65.1% of men) had sufficient oral feeding. None of the women had immunonutrition products, however 30.2% of the men supported by immunonutrition products. According to the NRS 2002 scores, there were no differences neither in between both genders nor between the beginning and the end scores in each gender. When patients were evaluated regarding the illness severity score, the difference between the beginning and end scores was significant (p<0.05). There were no differences between the beginning and the end APACHE II scores of women and men patients. When the biochemical results of the patients are analyzed, there were significant reduction in serum fasting glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrite and AST (aspartate aminotransaminaz) levels at the end of the study however, there was a significant increase in plasma sodium levels (p<0.05 and p<0.05). In conclusion, burn trauma leading stress, complications and metabolic dysfunctions in organism and results in a severe scenario. Therefore, besides the medical treatment given regarding their burn severity, types and degree, individualized medical nutritional therapy is of great importance in the clinical management of burn trauma. Key words: Burn, nutrition, BMI, energy, malnutrition