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Nutritional supplementation for hip fracture aftercare in older people

Avenell A, Handoll HH

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2005

1,306 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the hip are an important cause of later ill health and mortality in older people. People with hip fractures are often malnourished at the time of fracture, and have poor food intake in hospital.

OBJECTIVES: This review assesses the effects of nutritional interventions in older people recovering from hip fracture.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to October week 1 2004), Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews, EMBASE, BIOSIS, CINAHL, HEALTHSTAR, the National Research Register and reference lists. We contacted investigators and handsearched four nutrition journals.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials of nutritional interventions for mainly older people (aged over 65 years) with hip fracture.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both authors independently selected trials, extracted data and assessed trial quality. We sought additional information from all trialists, and pooled data for primary outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS: Eighteen randomised trials involving 1306 participants were included. Overall trial quality was poor; specifically in terms of allocation concealment, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. This, and the limited availability of outcome data, mean that the following results must be interpreted with caution. Eight trials evaluated oral multinutrient feeds:…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,306 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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