Calorie and Protein Intake in Acute Rehabilitation Inpatients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Versus Other Diagnoses

Obesity is a significant concern for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), increasing their risk of heart disease and other health problems. This study investigates the calorie and protein intake of SCI patients during acute inpatient rehabilitation. The study compares the dietary intake of SCI patients to that of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and Parkinson's disease (PD) to understand if SCI patients consume more calories and protein. The findings suggest that SCI patients in acute rehabilitation consume more calories than stroke and PD patients, highlighting the need for tailored nutritional education to prevent overeating and promote healthier outcomes.

• 1
  SCI patients had a significantly higher mean calorie intake compared to stroke and Parkinson's disease patients during acute inpatient rehabilitation.
• 2
  Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that younger age and male gender were significant predictors of increased calorie and protein intake, regardless of diagnosis.
• 3
  Diagnosis was not a predictor of calorie or protein intake in the regression model, suggesting that other factors like age and gender play a more significant role.