Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The nutritional management of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
T2 - A national survey of dietitians
AU - White, Sean
AU - Zarotti, Nicolò
AU - Beever, Daniel
AU - Bradburn, Mike
AU - Norman, Paul
AU - Coates, Elizabeth
AU - Stavroulakis, Theocharis
AU - White, David
AU - McGeachan, Alexander
AU - Williams, Isobel
AU - Hackney, Gemma
AU - Halliday, Vanessa
AU - McDermott, Christopher
PY - 2021/12/31
Y1 - 2021/12/31
N2 - BackgroundPeople living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) face many challenges with respect to taking adequate nutrition. Growing evidence links weight loss with negative prognostic outcomes. We aimed to explore the practice of dietitians in the UK with regard to the nutritional management of ALS.MethodsA national online survey was disseminated via professional groups, social media and newsletters to UK healthcare professionals between September and November 2018. The survey examined the nutritional management of ALS. Dietitian responses are reported in the present study.ResultsIn total, 130 dietitians responded to the survey. Two-thirds reported that ALS comprised less than 20% of their total patient caseload. Forty-two percent reported that nutritional screening took place in their organisation. One-half of dietitians reported that patients were referred for dietetic assessment at ‘about the right time’, although 44% reported referrals were made too late. The majority (83%) of dietitians used resting energy expenditure predictive equations not validated in ALS. When setting weight goals, dietitians reported most frequently recommending weight maintenance if the patient’s body mass index was 18.5–25 kg m−2 (72%), 25–30 kg m−2 (98%), and > 30 kg m−2 (79%). In addition, 43% reported that people with ALS were not weighed sufficiently frequently.ConclusionsAlthough the importance of early nutritional assessment is recognised, the timeliness of dietetic input and on-going monitoring of nutritional status in ALS care might not currently be ideal. Dietitians report using energy requirement predictive equations and setting weight goals that may not promote positive outcomes. Further research is required to understand the optimal nutritional management of ALS.
AB - BackgroundPeople living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) face many challenges with respect to taking adequate nutrition. Growing evidence links weight loss with negative prognostic outcomes. We aimed to explore the practice of dietitians in the UK with regard to the nutritional management of ALS.MethodsA national online survey was disseminated via professional groups, social media and newsletters to UK healthcare professionals between September and November 2018. The survey examined the nutritional management of ALS. Dietitian responses are reported in the present study.ResultsIn total, 130 dietitians responded to the survey. Two-thirds reported that ALS comprised less than 20% of their total patient caseload. Forty-two percent reported that nutritional screening took place in their organisation. One-half of dietitians reported that patients were referred for dietetic assessment at ‘about the right time’, although 44% reported referrals were made too late. The majority (83%) of dietitians used resting energy expenditure predictive equations not validated in ALS. When setting weight goals, dietitians reported most frequently recommending weight maintenance if the patient’s body mass index was 18.5–25 kg m−2 (72%), 25–30 kg m−2 (98%), and > 30 kg m−2 (79%). In addition, 43% reported that people with ALS were not weighed sufficiently frequently.ConclusionsAlthough the importance of early nutritional assessment is recognised, the timeliness of dietetic input and on-going monitoring of nutritional status in ALS care might not currently be ideal. Dietitians report using energy requirement predictive equations and setting weight goals that may not promote positive outcomes. Further research is required to understand the optimal nutritional management of ALS.
KW - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - motor neurone disease
KW - nutrition support
KW - nutritional assessment
KW - nutritional interventions
KW - malnutrition
U2 - 10.1111/jhn.12900
DO - 10.1111/jhn.12900
M3 - Journal article
VL - 34
SP - 1064
EP - 1071
JO - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
JF - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
IS - 6
ER -