Comparison of Chronic Wound Inpatients and Outpatients’ Diets and Meals Nutrient Content in Taabo Wound Management Unit, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Chronic and potential non-healing wounds are a great challenge for patients, physicians, and wound care professionals and the health system. A balanced nutrition intake is essential for health as well as a speedy recovery of such wounds. The study objective was to compare chronic wound inpatients supplemented with food nutrient content with outpatients with their usual intake in a cross-sectional study. Patients' food samples were taken for chemical analyses. The protein, beta-carotene, sodium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium content prove statistically significant differences. Outpatients' diets are more diversified than inpatients' diets, and supplementation diet richest in beta-carotene and in protein. Outpatients have better dietary diversity than those who were hospitalized. The result provides insights of supplementary food as critical issues pertaining to chronic wounds management. However, analyzing bioavailability of nutrient on patients' blood may provide more knowledge in the appropriate integrated wound management.