Nutritional status in patients with acute stroke.

By measuring three anthropometric variables (relative weight, triceps skinfold thickness and arm muscle circumference) and three circulating proteins (albumin, transferrin and prealbumin), nutritional status was assessed in 100 consecutive patients with acute stroke. On admission to hospital, two or more indicators showed subnormal values for 16%; this was associated with the female sex, high age and a history of atrial fibrillation. At discharge, 22% had two or more subnormal indicators. Poor nutritional status during the hospital stay appeared to be related to infections, the male sex, the intake of cardiovascular drugs and high age. Fewer of the patients with two or more subnormal nutritional indicators were able to return home than of the patients with none or one subnormal nutritional indicator. We conclude that undernutrition is not uncommon at the onset of stroke and that certain risk groups for the development of undernutrition during hospital stay can be identified.