Hospital-associated sarcopenia and the preventive effect of high energy intake along with intensive rehabilitation in patients with acute stroke

So where are the protocols for this located so future stroke survivors can find them and have their medical staff apply them?  Top down to doctors and therapists has been proven not to work. Stroke medical 'professionals' are woefully out-of-date on stroke recovery.

Hospital-associated sarcopenia and the preventive effect of high energy intake along with intensive rehabilitation in patients with acute stroke

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2023.112181Get rights and content

Highlights

• •

  Hospital-associated sarcopenia is adversely associated with clinical outcomes among acutely-admitted patients.

• •

  Higher energy intake & intensive rehab prevent hospital-associated sarcopenia.

• •

  Nutrition therapy & rehab improve ADL.

• •

  Multidisciplinary approach needed to manage sarcopenia in older patients.

Abstract

Objective

Hospital-associated sarcopenia is prevalent and associated with poor outcomes in acutely admitted patients. Prevention of developing sarcopenia during hospitalization is an important factor in stroke management. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether energy intake and rehabilitation duration contribute to the prevention of hospital-associated sarcopenia in patients with acute stroke.

Methods

Patients with acute stroke were included in this study. Energy intake during the first week of hospitalization was classified as “High” or “Low” based on the reported cutoff value. Rehabilitation time during hospitalization was classified as “Intense” or “Mild, based on the median. The four groups were compared based on the combination of high/low energy intake and intense/mild rehabilitation. The primary outcome was the development of sarcopenia during hospitalization. The secondary outcome was the functional independence measure motor item gain during hospitalization. Multivariate analysis was performed with the primary/secondary outcome as the dependent variable and the effect of each group on the outcome was examined.

Results

One hundred and twelve participants (mean age 70.6 years, 63 men) were included in the study. Multivariate analysis showed that “High × Intense” (OR=0.113, p=0.041) was independently associated with the development of sarcopenia during hospitalization (i.e., hospital-related sarcopenia). “High × Intense” (β=0.395, p<0.001) was independently associated with the gain of FIM motor items.

Conclusions

In patients with acute stroke, the combination of high-energy intake and adequate rehabilitation time is associated with prevention of hospital-associated sarcopenia.