Hospital malnutrition is especially common among elderly patients with neurological deficits or dementia. These conditions can be exacerbated by unpalatable diets and issues such as dysphagia and presbyphagia. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in patients on a homogenized diet and to identify potential correlations with specific clinical variables. We conducted a retrospective observational study in compliance with the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. The study encompassed 82 patients, mainly elderly and diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases. Upon initial assessment, 46.34% of the sample displayed a risk of malnutrition based on the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and 62.20% were classified as malnourished based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Only 45.12% retained autonomy in food intake. Weight loss identified prior to the study was closely tied to malnutrition and influenced BMI. Moreover, autonomy in food intake was strongly associated with a prolonged hospital stay (LOS), and a similar trend was observed for water intake. Our findings emphasize the importance of promptly recognizing patients at risk of malnutrition, especially within such a vulnerable population. Autonomy in food intake and hydration emerge as critical indicators in the clinical management of hospitalized patients.

The prevalence of malnutrition is increasing globally due to factors such as age-related pathological conditions and diseases that impact food and beverage intake. In hospital settings, older adult patients often require homogenised diets, which can lead to malnutrition due to poor palatability and limited variety. This study compared the Standard Homogenised Diet (HSD) and a Modified Homogenized Diet (HMD) proposed in a tertiary hospital in Northern Italy. A retrospective and observational design was used to analyse data from 86 adult patients with various conditions requiring a homogenised diet. The primary goal was to compare food intake, rheological characteristics, and palatability of the two diets. The secondary objective was to evaluate the economic impact by comparing costs and quantifying food waste from unused meals. Patients on HMD had a median daily caloric intake of 852 kcal (IQR 787–926 kcal) compared to 631 kcal (IQR 506–797 kcal) in the HSD group. Taste, texture, palatability, and ease of intake for HMD outperformed HSD with scores such as 3.7 ± 0.6 vs. 2.5 ± 0.4 for taste. Economically, HMD was EUR 0.53 less expensive per day than HSD, and food wastage costs were significantly lower for HMD (EUR 2.66 ± 0.81) than HSD (EUR 4.66 ± 1.27). Overall, HMD presented substantial benefits in patient satisfaction and cost-efficiency. This insight may aid diverse care settings to enhance meal acceptance and nutritional intake for patients needing homogenised diets.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition characterized by structural and functional impairments in the kidneys, affecting around 10-15% of the global population. Kidney transplantation from living donors is regarded as the most effective treatment for CKD. Little is known about the consequences in kidney donors in term of quality of life, work ability and overall health status, including pain syndromes developing. This may drive intervention to support donors and promoting their engagement. This scoping review evaluates the quality of life (QoL), pain syndromes occurrence, mental health and work ability of adult living kidney donors. A scoping review was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases between April and September 2023. The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, incorporated guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), and reported to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol for this review was registered on the Open Science Framework. Risk of bias and study quality were assessed using JBI checklists. Starting from the analysis of 5069 records, 10 studies were included in the present study. The results show scanty data about the issues. The occurrence of medium and high intensity pain after surgery is reported; mental health seems to be moderately compromised and related to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Of interest, QoL seems to be overall improved after the kidney donation, suggesting a phase of adaptation following the surgery. No data are available on the work ability changes after donation. This review emphasizes the presence of positive effects of kidney donation in living donors and, on the other hand the need of improving pain management and mental health support in the first time after surgery. The information about the consequences of kidney donation on work ability is completely lacking. This could be relevant to be known for new potential donors. It also advocates for continued interdisciplinary research for developing evidence-based care strategies to promote donors' multifaceted well-being.