Risk factors associated with malnutrition in hospitalized patients

Abstract

A B S T R A C T ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with malnutrition in patients hospitalized in general public hospitals of the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 397 patients of both sexes aged more than 18 years, staying at three public hospitals in Manaus, Amazonas. The patients were submitted to anthropometric and subjective global assessments, the latter being the main diagnostic method. For association analyses between malnutrition (dependent variable) and other covariates, we used contingency table for variable selection and multiple logistic regression for independent effect test between exposure and outcome. The strength of association between the variables was expressed as odds ratio, with a 95% confidence interval. The analyses were performed by Epi Info 7.0. ResultsAmong the risk factors associated with hospital malnutrition, hospital stays longer than 15 days, when analyzed alone, nearly tripled the odds of malnutrition. However, in the final model, the variables that remained associated were: persistent change in diet, presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, recent weight loss, weight loss in the last six months, cancer, and age higher than 60 years. ConclusionMalnutrition is recurrent in hospitals, and the factors associated with malnutrition can be identified on admission, allowing adequate monitoring during hospital stay. Therefore, a more effective performance of nutritional screening and monitoring programs is critical. Keywords

Scored patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment: Length of hospital stay and mortality in cancer patients

“…Fragas & Oliveira [4], investigating factors associated with malnutrition during hospitalization, found that there was a 3-fold risk of malnutrition in prolonged hospitalizations (up to 15 days). Furthermore, persistent changes in diet, presence of digestive symptoms, recent weight loss and weight loss over the last six months, age, and mainly cancer (tenfold risk) also increase the risk of becoming malnourished.…”

“…The impact of this process is expected to encumber the health services and is largely associated with negative outcomes, such as: increase in morbidity and mortality, infections and complications, length of hospital stay (six days or over), and hospital costs and decrease in healing capacity, immune response, and tolerance to anticancer treatment [4,5].…”

Validity and Reliability of a Nutrition Screening Tool in Identifying Malnutrition Among Hospitalized Adult Patients

“…Early recognition of malnutrition and appropriate nutrition intervention in hospitalized patients is critical to improve the quality and efficiency of nutrition care, as it is a vital component for the patient's recovery. 4 Nutrition screening is used to quickly identify malnourished patients or patients who are at risk of malnutrition and to determine whether a more detailed assessment is warranted. 5,6 A good nutrition screen tool (NST) should be simple and easy to use, utilize routine data, and be costeffective, reliable, and valid.…”

Espessura do músculo adutor do polegar em idosos hospitalizados: relação com sexo e idade

“…A desnutrição é frequente entre idosos hospitalizados [1][2][3][4] . Ter 60 anos ou mais é um dos fatores associados à maior frequência de desnutrição hospitalar.…”