Abstract
Rationale: The prevalence of malnutrition at secondary-care hospitals has never been thoroughly assessed in Latvia. Various studies show that the prevalence is very variable, ranging 10–50% of hospital patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition at secondary-care hospitals in Latvia on the basis of the Nutritional Risk Assessment (NRS2002) tool, also associating malnutrition with various potentially predictive factors.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Talsi clinic of the Northern Kurzeme Regional Hospital in May–June 2016. All patients were weighed, their height was measured, and they were assessed on the basis of NRS2002 by an experienced physician (E.P.B.) within 24 hours of admission. The diagnosis of malnutrition was made if the NRS2002 score was ≥3. Data related to age, gender, length of hospital stay (LOS) and health conditions were collected. Age and LOS are shown as median (interquartile range). The association of malnutrition with age, LOS and various existing bodily organ pathologies was assessed on the basis of binary logistic regression (SPSS 20.0). The local ethics committee approved the study protocol.
Results: Malnutrition was identified in 28.7% (64/223) of patients. Patients with malnutrition were older 69 (55–78) versus 78.5 (70.25–85) years, p = 0.001 and had longer LOS 5 (3–8) versus 7 (5.25–10) days, p = 0.012. During their hospital stay, 6 patients who were malnourished died (p = 0.001). Malnutrition is associated with oncological diseases OR 5.0, p = 0.05 and was more frequently diagnosed among patients with lung disease OR 3.2, p = 0.064.
Conclusion: Malnutrition is prevalent in secondary-care hospitals in Latvia, mostly affecting elderly patients, patients with oncological and lung diseases. Patients with malnutrition have longer hospital stays and higher rates of mortality. The NRS2002 tool may be used in secondary-care hospitals in Latvia to diagnose malnutrition.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Talsi clinic of the Northern Kurzeme Regional Hospital in May–June 2016. All patients were weighed, their height was measured, and they were assessed on the basis of NRS2002 by an experienced physician (E.P.B.) within 24 hours of admission. The diagnosis of malnutrition was made if the NRS2002 score was ≥3. Data related to age, gender, length of hospital stay (LOS) and health conditions were collected. Age and LOS are shown as median (interquartile range). The association of malnutrition with age, LOS and various existing bodily organ pathologies was assessed on the basis of binary logistic regression (SPSS 20.0). The local ethics committee approved the study protocol.
Results: Malnutrition was identified in 28.7% (64/223) of patients. Patients with malnutrition were older 69 (55–78) versus 78.5 (70.25–85) years, p = 0.001 and had longer LOS 5 (3–8) versus 7 (5.25–10) days, p = 0.012. During their hospital stay, 6 patients who were malnourished died (p = 0.001). Malnutrition is associated with oncological diseases OR 5.0, p = 0.05 and was more frequently diagnosed among patients with lung disease OR 3.2, p = 0.064.
Conclusion: Malnutrition is prevalent in secondary-care hospitals in Latvia, mostly affecting elderly patients, patients with oncological and lung diseases. Patients with malnutrition have longer hospital stays and higher rates of mortality. The NRS2002 tool may be used in secondary-care hospitals in Latvia to diagnose malnutrition.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | SUN-P226 |
| Pages (from-to) | S138 |
| Journal | Clinical Nutrition |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | Suppl.1 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2017 |
| Event | 39th ESPEN Congress - Hague, Netherlands Duration: 9 Sept 2017 → 12 Sept 2017 Conference number: 39 https://www.espen.org/congress/next-congresses/12-espen/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214&Itemid=1052 |
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
