Prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors in stroke patients residing in an infirmary.

Abstract

Five of 61 (8.2 percent) stroke patients residing in an infirmary were malnourished. Two risk factors significantly associated with malnutrition were previous history of smoking and dysphagia. It is recommended that smoking history be elicited during routine history-taking of all stroke patients and particular nutritional attention be given to these at-risk patients. It is also emphasised that the management of dysphagia should follow a standardised protocol and form an integral element of patient care.