Nutrition service in physical rehabilitation: epidemiological profile of patients in outpatient care

It is estimated that one person in ten has a deficiency, which is 10% of the world’s population. The most common causes of physical disability are amputation, stroke, head trauma, spinal cord injury, fibromyalgia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: This study sought to describe the profile of patients served by the nutrition service at the Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação (IMREA) Vila Mariana Unit, São Paulo, between February 2012 and September 2015. Method: This is a descriptive study whose data were obtained from medical records of visits where the following data were collected: gender, age, service personnel, associated diseases, initial and final body mass index, and initial and final bowel habits. Results: The studied population was predominantly female; young adult; main etiology of brain damage; diagnosed hypertension associated in most cases; and mostly overweight. Conclusion: Observed significant improvement in bowel habits after nutrition education program.