The recovery of a hospitalized patient is related to three main factors: the quality of the nutrition received, physical activity oriented as a recovery – preventive activity, and emotional support, family members to be with them, mentions Dr. Guillermo Contreras, head of critical units at Clinica Ricardo Palma

“Hospitalized patients need constant monitoring with a special team for specialized nutritional support that allows detecting improvement and assessing the medical progress. Physical activity and nutrition are necessary factors to keep the body protein levels (active biological mass) and the vital functions active”, added

According to Dr. Contreras we must put aside the myth that says hospital food is not nice, “this just encourages family members to bring food to the patient that will not necessarily help them in their recovery process, they can even worsen their condition, affecting their recovery”

A study performed in Latin America by United for Clinical Nutrition showed that 74.2% of hospitalized patients in the intensive care units in Peru have moderate and severe clinical malnutrition, increasing the risk of mortality in hospitals and clinics

“A properly nutrition during hospitalization is essential to deliver the best response of our body before a condition and to be able to recover. It is important that more critical patients and at risk are assessed by specialized nutritional support teams”, explained

Dr. GuillermoContreras
Head of the Intensive Care Unit at Clínica Ricardo Palma