Nutritional Status of Male Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury in a Special Hospital Unit in Qatar; Focuses on Ensuring Macronutrients Inadequacy

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability. The goals of this chapter were to evaluate the nutritional status and micronutrient adequacy of TBI patients and controls receiving treatment at a specialized unit in Qatar.

This study was carried out among male attendees following up with Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation-Doha, Qatar from August 2014 to June 2015 (21 cases and 21 healthy volunteers). The attendees were TBI patients who attended in succession. The attendees who had TBI were asked directly or through medical records for their demographic information. Super tracker was used to gather and evaluate anthropometric measurements and dietary intake (using the 24-hour recall method). The average age of the participants was between 30 and 38 years old (52.4%). The findings showed that a total of 23.8% of cases were determined to have "mild TBI," 28.6% to have "moderate TBI," and 47.6% to have "severe TBI." In terms of nutritional parameters, three-fourths (76.2%) of the cases were at high or moderate risk of malnutrition, 23.8% of cases were underweight, 66.7% were in the normal range and 9.5% were overweight. The intake of energy (30.2%), carbohydrates (43.0%), protein (24.8%), and fiber (54.1%) was found to be inadequate in TBI patients. According to this study, TBI patients in Qatar are at a high risk of malnutrition and macronutrient deficiencies. As a result, dietary assessment, intervention, and support are critical to improving TBI patients' health status after the brain damage. TBI patient’s intake of macronutrients and fiber was deficient with regard to Recommended Daily.