Assessment of gastric emptying time of hospitalized elderly and its correlation with clinical outcome

• Grant number: 11/21283-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ferriolli
• Grantee: Luiza Pompeu Prado Moreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of studies to analyze age-related physical and physiological changes is important due to the aging of the world population (Bhutto, Morley, 2008). Gastrointestinal disorders are associated with aging, including a delay in gastric emptying. This can induce disturbances indigestion, and nutrient bioavailability and cause the inactivation of some drugs (Alencar; Curiati, 2002). In this study, we intend to investigate the relationship between gastric emptying and the clinical and nutritional status of a population of patients aged 60 years or over, admitted to the geriatric ward of the University Hospital of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP. The method to be applied uses a stable isotope and breath test (Deane et al., 2009), following the methodology proposed by Lee et al., 2000. This process consists of the ingestion of an acid, which is excreted through the lungs during expiration in the form of 13CO2, after metabolism in the body. Samples of expired gas are collected and analyzed by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and then we can establish a relationship between the excretion of 13CO2 and gastric emptying (Keller et al., 2009). With these results we can research potential comorbidities associated with delayed gastric emptying, relating these results to a possible deterioration in health status and increase in the hospitalization time. We expect this study to detect possible deficiencies in the digestive system of these patients and evaluate how the delay in gastric emptying affects the recovery of the hospitalized patient, enabling the planning of a dietary treatment suitable to each individual situation.(AU)