The effect of nutritional status of patients followed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on anthropometric measurements, muscle mass, course of disease, morbidity and mortality

ALS is characterized by loss of upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, idiopathic, progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Malnutrition at ALS It is an important risk factor that adversely affects prognosis and is one of the poor prognosis criteria. In our study, 55 ALS patients who were admitted to the Istanbul Medical Faculty Clinical Nutrition Polyclinic between January 2010 and December 2018 and were followed up for at least 1 month were evaluated. Nutritional Risk Score Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) test was used to evaluate and follow up nutritional status of the patients. Mass and body fat percentage, laboratory analysis (serum creatinine, albumin, C-Reactive protein, lymphocyte count) were used as auxiliary parameters. The preferred feeding routes and treatment methods were evaluated in patients with malnutrition. History of pneumonia, hospitalization, tracheostomy, need for mechanical ventilator support, dysphagia and weight loss were evaluated in the evaluation of disease complications and severity. Malnutrition and morbidity and mortality were compared. Anthropometric measurement during follow-up of patients, laboratory and clinical status changes were examined. Dysphagia and decrease in oral food intake to the majority of patients in our study PEG was inserted. Despite the current malnutrition treatment.There has been a decrease in weight and muscle mass levels.Most of the patients who died are those who have failed malnutrition therapy for various reasons. Decrease in BMI, serum albumin and creatinine levels was significant in patients who died. It was found that serum albumin values ​​decreased significantly in patients who could not receive regular malnutrition treatment. In our study, early, regular and effective nutritional therapy had positive effects on the course of disease, morbidity and mortality. The results should be supported by future studies.