Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2018 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.4.591 · Published: July 1, 2018
This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of Korean patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) using specific screening tools. It sought to identify predictors of undernutrition and its impact on clinical outcomes. The study used MUST and SNST tools to evaluate nutritional status, comparing a low-risk group with an at-risk group to determine the effects of undernutrition on functional outcomes. The findings revealed that approximately 50% of SCI patients were at risk of undernutrition, which can negatively affect functional recovery.
Implement early and regular nutritional screening for SCI patients upon hospital admission to identify those at risk of undernutrition.
Develop and provide customized nutritional support plans based on the specific needs and characteristics of SCI patients, especially considering the high risk of undernutrition.
Prioritize the development and validation of SCI-specific nutritional screening tools adapted for Korean patients to improve the accuracy of nutritional assessments.