Prevalence of Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients: a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study

Screening, identification, and diagnosis of malnutrition in hospitalized patients with solid tumors: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients with cancer and adversely affects clinical outcomes. We evaluated the prevalence of malnutrition risk, dietitian-identified malnutrition (DIMN), and physician-diagnosed malnutrition (PDMN) at admission.

METHODS

This retrospective study included adults diagnosed with a stage I-IV solid tumor malignancy and admitted to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center from January 2016 to May 2019. Malnutrition risk was determined by a score ≥2 on the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) administered by a registered nurse during the intake process. Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) assessments were reviewed for DIMN and grade (mild, moderate, or severe). PDMN included malnutrition International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes in the discharge summary. Univariate models were estimated; multivariate logistic regression models identified associations between clinicodemographic factors and malnutrition prevalence with stepwise selection.

RESULTS

A total of 5143 patients were included. Median age was 63 (range 18-102) years, 48% were female, 70% were White, and 24% were Black. Upper gastrointestinal (21%), thoracic (18%), and genitourinary (18%) cancers were most common. A total of 28% had stage IV disease. MST scores were available for 4085 (79%); 1005 of 4085 (25%) were at malnutrition risk. Eleven percent (n = 557) had malnutrition coded by a physician or documented by an RDN; 4% (n = 223) of these were identified by both clinicians, 4% (n = 197) by RDNs only, and 3% (n = 137) by physicians only.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition appears to be underdiagnosed by both RDNs and physicians. Underdiagnosis of malnutrition may have significant clinical, operational, and financial implications in cancer care.

Identifying correlations between nutritional impact symptoms and risk factors for malnutrition in adult cancer patients with solid tumors: a cross-sectional study from a developing country

BACKGROUND

Many cancer patients experience malnutrition, which can worsen their health and survival outcomes. However, limited research exists in our region on how common malnutrition is among hospitalized adults with solid tumors and what factors contribute to it. This study aimed to identify these factors and assess the effects of nutritional impact symptoms (NISs) caused by solid tumors on patients' nutritional status.

METHODS

Between July 2022 and February 2023, a cross-sectional study was carried out on the campuses of two major cancer treatment centers located in a national university hospital and a governmental hospital. Twelve NISs were adopted from the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessments (PG-SGA). The Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) instrument was used to thoroughly assess the risk of malnutrition. Multiple linear regressions were used to conduct a thorough study.

RESULTS

A cohort of 294 participants was included. The prevalence of malnutrition risk (NRS score ≥ 3) was 26.9%. Parameters such as age, gender, marital status, educational level, monthly income, type of cancer and treatment modality, and the need for mealtime assistance exhibited statistically significant associations with malnutrition (p < 0.05). The results revealed a substantial inverse correlation between fluid intake and the NRS-2002 score (p < 0.001). Furthermore, symptoms related to solid tumors and their treatment, including chewing difficulties, fatigue, dry mouth, anorexia, constipation, nausea, dizziness, and a sensation of fullness, were also significantly associated with malnutrition (p < 0.05). Additional insights from the regression analysis underscored the independent correlation between the risk of malnutrition in solid malignant malignancies and factors such as anorexia (p < 0.001), colorectal cancer (p = 0.003), gender (p = 0.018), educational attainment (p = 0.049), and the need for mealtime assistance among patients (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition is a major issue among adult cancer patients, particularly those with solid tumors. Anorexia, colorectal cancer, gender, educational attainment, and the need for mealtime assistance were identified as factors that led to malnutrition in our research. This study emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary plan of care to diagnose and treat malnutrition, improve overall therapy, and reduce mortality and morbidity.

Enteral tube feeding practices and associated factors among nurses working in South Wollo Zone Specialized and General Hospitals, Wollo, Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Enteral tube feeding is recommended as a route for nutrient delivery in critically ill patients. The practice of enteral tube feeding by nurses significantly influences patient treatment outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the practices of enteral tube feeding and the associated factors among nurses working in South Wollo Zone Specialized and General Hospitals, Wollo, Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 420 nurses from 1st August to 1st September 2022. Simple random sampling methods were used to select study participants. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and an observational checklist. The data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Variables with a p-value <0.05, a 95% confidence interval, and an adjusted odd ratio were considered to be significantly associated with enteral tube feeding practice.

Result

A total of 400 nurses participated in the study, yielding a 95.2% response rate. The overall good practice of enteral tube feeding among nurses was 114 (28.5%) with a 95% CI of 23.8-33. Enteral tube feeding practice was significantly associated with a lack of adequate resources (AOR = 0.359, 95% CI: 0.192-0.673), unfamiliarity with current guidelines (AOR = 0.346, 95% CI: 0.203-0.586), lack of awareness (AOR = 0.511, 95% CI: 0.306-0.673) and the thermal effect of food (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.348-0.889).

Conclusion

The enteral tube feeding practice among nurses was found to be 28.5%. Significant determinants of enteral tube feeding practice included a lack of awareness, inadequate resources in the institution, and unfamiliarity with the current guidelines for enteral feeding. To improve enteral feeding practices, it is recommended that sufficient resources be provided, guidelines be made readily available, and training programs be conducted for the nursing staff.

Association between nutrition intake and muscle mass in adult inpatients receiving nutrition support: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between muscle mass variation, estimated by different equations, during hospitalization with the energy and protein intake and clinical and nutrition outcomes of patients using nutrition support.

METHODS

A prospective observational study with patients older than 18 years in use of enteral and/or parenteral nutrition therapy and monitored by the Nutritional Therapy Committee between December 14, 2021, and December 14, 2022. Data were collected from the electronic records and were applied in 11 equations to estimate the four different portions of muscle mass of patients receiving nutrition support at the beginning and the end of hospitalization.

RESULTS

A total of 261 patients were evaluated, with a median age of 61.0 (49.0-69.75) years, and 106 were women (40.6%). According to the nutrition diagnosis, several participants had severe malnutrition (39.5%). The most muscle mass estimation equations indicated a reduction of muscle mass during hospitalization. All patients presented negative energy and protein balances during hospitalization, but greater protein intake increased the lean soft tissue. Also, the greater the number of infections, metabolic complications, and scheduled diet interruption, the greater was the chance of losing muscle mass.

CONCLUSION

There can be an association between the variation in muscle mass and energy and protein intake during hospitalization of patients using nutrition support. In addition, variation in muscle mass was associated with complications from nutrition support. The results emphasize the importance of anthropometric measurements to estimate muscle mass when other methods are not available.

Modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill score and mortality in critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Understanding the relationship between nutrition risk at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the prognosis of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may aid early recognition of high-risk patients.

METHODS

We extracted data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III and the electronic ICU Collaborative Research Databases. Using modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill score (mNUTRIC) within the first 24 h of ICU admission, 5153 patients were divided into three groups: low (≤1, n = 1765), moderate (2-4, n = 2574), and high (≥5, n = 814). The primary outcome was 28-day in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes were 7-day in-hospital mortality, length of ICU stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up time of 6.69 days, 647 deaths occurred in total. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, setting the low mNUTRIC group as a reference, the risk of 28-day mortality was increased in the high and moderate mNUTRIC groups (hazard ratio [HR]high vs low [95% CI]: 4.21 [2.70-6.58] and 2.84 [1.95-4.14], respectively). Similarly, high and moderate mNUTRIC scores are linked to a higher risk of 7-day mortality (PTrend  < 0.001) and a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (PTrend  < 0.001). The effect of mNUTRIC on mortality varied by serum glucose level (PInteraction  = 0.01). Lastly, those whose mNUTRIC scores deteriorated within the first 3 days have a 1.46 times greater risk of dying compared with patients with improved mNUTRIC scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Nutrition risk screening by mNUTRIC score at the time of admission to the ICU may improve mortality prediction.

Acute Changes in Body Muscle Mass and Fat Depletion in Hospitalized Young Trauma Patients: A Descriptive Retrospective Study

Background: Loss of muscle mass, and its strength, is associated with adverse outcomes in many medical and surgical conditions. Trauma patients may get malnourished during their hospital course due to many interrelated contributing factors. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the acute muscle and fat changes in young trauma patients in the early days post-admission. Objective: to explore the diagnosis, feeding status, and outcome of muscle mass loss among young abdominal polytrauma patients. Methods: It was a retrospective study including hospitalized abdominal trauma patients who underwent an abdominal computerized tomographic (CT) examination initially and a follow-up one week later. CT scan-based automatic and manual analysis of the muscles and fat of the abdominal region was calculated and compared. Also, we evaluated the feeding and nutritional values to explore the adequacy of the provided calories and proteins and the potential influence of enteral feeding on the CT-based parameters for muscle loss and fat depletion. Results: There were 138 eligible subjects with a mean age of 32.8 ± 13.5 years; of them, 92% were males. Operative interventions were performed on two-thirds of the patients, including abdominal surgery (43%), orthopedic surgeries (34%), and neurosurgical procedures (8.1%). On admission, 56% received oral feeding, and this rate slightly increased to 58.4% after the first week. Enteral feed was prescribed for the remaining, except for two patients. The percentage of change in the total psoas muscle area was significantly reduced after one week of admission in patients on enteral feed as compared to those in the oral feeding group (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the percentages of changes in the CT scan findings except for the total psoas muscle area (p = 0.001) and para-spinal muscle area (p = 0.02), which reduced significantly in the those who underwent laparotomy as compared to those who did not need laparotomy. Trauma patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery lost muscle and fat over time. Conclusions: Loss of muscle mass and body fat is not uncommon among young trauma patients. Patients who underwent laparotomy are more likely to be affected. Further larger studies are needed to assess the specific features in the younger trauma population and how far this can be influenced by the nutrition status and its impact on the clinical outcomes. It could be early or impending stages of sarcopenia linked to trauma patients, or just acute changes in the muscle and fat, that need further investigation and follow-up after hospital discharge.

Factors Associated With Malnutrition in Hospitalized Cancer Patients in a National Oncology Center in Conflict-Affected Settings in Sana'a, Yemen: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background Cancer can significantly impact the nutritional status of patients, which can worsen related complications and reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Malnutrition is a common complication among cancer patients, especially among older adults. This study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized cancer patients and identify factors associated with malnutrition. Methodology and methods The cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 296 cancer patients admitted to the National Oncology Referral Center in Sana'a, Yemen, between February 1 and March 31, 2022. Malnutrition was diagnosed through clinical assessment and screening tools such as screening tools, body mass index (BMI), weight loss percentage, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to assess factors associated with malnutrition. Results Of the 296 patients included in the analysis, most were female 225 (76.0%), and the mean age was 45.8 years. The prevalence of undernutrition, as determined by the BMI score, was 48 (16.2%). The prevalence of malnutrition was higher in females 37 (16.4%) compared to males 11(15.5%). The data indicated that 49% of hospitalized patients had experienced weight loss of 5% or more. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that single (AOR=12.93, 95% CI: 1.17-142.77) or widowed (AOR=11.51, 95% CI: 1.05-126.03) marital status, weight loss (AOR=7.56, 95% CI: 3.00-18.69), stomach cancer (AOR=6.77, 95% CI: 1.66-27.70), and breast cancer (AOR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.12-6.03) were associated with an increased risk of malnutrition. Conclusions  The study highlights the importance of evaluating and addressing the nutritional status of cancer patients, especially at the beginning and during treatment, to improve their clinical outcomes. Prospective studies are recommended to further investigate this issue.

Registered Dietitians' enteral feeding practices, obstacles, and needs during the management of critically Ill hospitalized patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study

Objectives

Nutritional protocols and guidelines are essential to guide health-care practitioners toward effective enteral feeding management for critically ill patients. Despite the wide availability of international guidelines to direct enteral feeding practices, there are no nutritional guidelines regarding enteral feeding practices tailored for the Saudi Arabian population. In addition, different enteral feeding practices may result in negative outcomes like malnutrition.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted through multiple focus group sessions. Pre-formulated structured open-ended questions were asked from the participants during the focus group sessions to gain an in-depth understanding of the current enteral feeding practices. All sessions were audio-recorded, and the transcript was coded and cross-validated.

Results

A total of five focus group sessions were conducted until data saturation was reached. Data saturation was reached when no additional information was mentioned in the fifth focus group session when compared to all previous sessions. All 24 participants were specialized in the clinical nutrition field with enteral feeding experience in critically ill patients and working in Riyadh city. Twelve themes of the current practices, four themes of obstacles, and four themes of needs were identified with subthemes.

Conclusion

This qualitative study shows different enteral feeding practices, obstacles, and needs among registered dietitians. Thus, the need for developing national nutritional guidelines tailored to local population characteristics is highlighted. National guidelines are recommended to be compatible with a defined registered dietitian role with clear standards of practices and responsibility for each discipline to achieve a competent health care service.

Improving physician documentation for malnutrition: A sustainable quality improvement initiative

This study compares documentation and reimbursement rates before and after provider education in nutritional status documentation. Our study aimed to evaluate accurate documentation of nutrition status between registered dietitian nutritionists and licensed independent practitioners before and after the implementation of a dietitian-led Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam intervention at an academic medical center in the southeastern US. ICD-10 codes identified patients from 10/1/2016-1/31/2018 with malnutrition. The percentage of patients with an appropriate diagnosis of malnutrition and reimbursement outcomes attributed to malnutrition documentation were calculated up to 24 months post-intervention. 528 patients were analyzed. Pre-intervention, 8.64% of patients had accurate documentation compared to 46.3% post-intervention. Post-intervention, 68 encounters coded for malnutrition resulted in an estimated $571,281 of additional reimbursement, sustained at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. A multidisciplinary intervention improved physician documentation accuracy of malnutrition status and increased reimbursement rates.

Nutrition care is an integral part of patient-centred medical care: a European consensus

While healthcare is becoming more patient-centred, evidence-based nutrition interventions are still not accessible to all patients with cancer. As nutrition interventions directly improve clinical and socioeconomic outcomes, patient-centred care is not complete without nutrition care. While awareness of the negative impact of malnutrition on clinical outcomes, quality of life, and functional and emotional wellbeing in cancer is growing, there is relatively poor awareness amongst patients, clinicians, policymakers, and payers that nutrition interventions -particularly those begun in the early stages of the disease course- are an effective method for improving such outcomes. The European Beating Cancer Plan recognises the need for a holistic approach to cancer but lacks actionable recommendations to implement integrated nutrition cancer care at member state level. When considering nutrition care as a human right, the impact on quality of life and functional status must be prioritized, as these may be equally as important to patients, especially in advanced cancer where improvements in clinical outcomes such as survival or tumour burden may not be attainable. We formulate actions needed at the regional and the European level to ensure integrated nutrition care for all patients with cancer. The 4 main Take Home Messages are as follows: 1. The goals of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan cannot be achieved without integrating nutrition across the cancer care continuum. 2. Malnutrition negatively impacts clinical outcomes and has socioeconomic consequences for patients and healthcare systems. 3. Championing integrating nutrition care into cancer care is therefore the duty and ethical responsibility of clinicians (Hippocratic Oath-primum non nocere) and 4. Nutrition care is a cost effective, evidence-based therapy.

Nutritional Status of Coronary Artery Disease Patients-Preliminary Results

INTRODUCTION

Malnutrition is a condition that negatively impacts the clinical outcomes of numerous diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and to investigate its relationship with the main clinical aspects of CAD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

50 CAD patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. The nutritional status assessment was based on Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS 2002), body mass index (BMI), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements.

RESULTS

The analysis showed a moderate inverse correlation between NRS 2002 and BIA phase angle measured at 50 kHz (R: -0.31; p = 0.03) and Z200/5 parameter (R: 0.34; p = 0.02). The analysis of CAD clinical parameters showed a significant correlation between NRS 2002 and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class (R: 0.37; p = 0.01). Left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was correlated with BMI (R: 0.38; p = 0.02), however further BIA revealed hydration changes as LVEF was correlated to intracellular (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) proportion: positively with ICF (R: 0.38; p = 0.02) and negatively with ECF (R: -0.39; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

NRS 2002 and BIA are valuable tools for nutritional status assessment in CAD patients. Malnutrition is related to the severity of CAD symptoms, particularly in women. Maintaining proper nutritional status can have a potentially important role in this group of patients.

Expert Consensus on Morphofunctional Assessment in Disease-Related Malnutrition. Grade Review and Delphi Study

Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) affects approximately a third of hospitalized patients and is associated with an increased risk of morbimortality. However, DRM is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Our aim is to evaluate the prognostic value of morphofunctional tools and tests for nutritional assessment in clinical practice. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies relating to the morphofunctional assessment of nutritional status and mortality or complications. Evidence was evaluated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) method. Twelve GRADE recommendations were made and divided into seven topics: food intake and nutrient assimilation, anthropometry, biochemical analysis, hand grip strength, phase angle, muscle imaging, and functional status and quality of life. From these recommendations, 37 statements were developed and scored in a two-survey Delphi method by 183 experts. A consensus was reached on accepting 26/37 statements. Surveys had high internal consistency and high inter-rater reliability. In conclusion, evidence-based recommendations were made on the prognostic value of morphofunctional assessment tools and tests to assess malnutrition, most of which were found to be feasible in routine clinical practice, according to expert opinions.

Risk of Malnutrition in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Studies have reported that COVID-19 may increase the risk of malnutrition among patients. However, the prevalence of such risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is uncertain due to the inconsistent use of assessment methods. (2) Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched to identify studies on the nutritional status of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A pooled prevalence of malnutrition risk evaluated by Nutrition Risk Score (NRS-2002) was obtained using a random effects model. Differences by study-level characteristics were examined by hospitalization setting, time of assessment, age, and country. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle−Ottawa Scale. (3) Results: 53 studies from 17 countries were identified and summarized. A total of 17 studies using NRS-2002, including 3614 COVID-19 patients were included in the primary meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of risk of malnutrition was significantly higher among ICU patients (92.2%, 95% CI: 85.9% to 96.8%) than among general ward patients (70.7%, 95% CI: 56.4% to 83.2%) (p = 0.002). No significant differences were found between age groups (≥65 vs. <65 years, p = 0.306) and countries (p = 0.893). (4) Conclusions: High risk of malnutrition is common and concerning in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, suggesting that malnutrition screening and nutritional support during hospitalization are needed.

Impact of nutrition and physical activity on outcomes of hospital-acquired pneumonia

Frailty is an important risk factor for adverse health-related outcomes. It is classified into several phenotypes according to nutritional state and physical activity. In this context, we investigated whether frailty phenotypes were related to clinical outcome of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). During the study period, a total of 526 patients were screened for HAP and 480 of whom were analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to physical inactivity and malnutrition: nutritional frailty (Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index [GNRI] < 82 and Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS] ≥ 4), malnutrition (GNRI < 82 and CFS < 4), physical frailty (GNRI ≥ 82 and CFS ≥ 4), and normal (GNRI ≥ 82 and CFS < 4). Among the phenotypes, physical frailty without malnutrition was the most common (39.4%), followed by nutritional frailty (30.2%), normal (20.6%), and malnutrition (9.8%). There was a significant difference in hospital survival and home discharge among the four phenotypes (p = 0.009), and the nutritional frailty group had the poorest in-hospital survival and home discharge (64.8% and 34.6%, respectively). In conclusion, there were differences in clinical outcomes according to the four phenotypes of HAP. Assessment of frailty phenotypes during hospitalization may improve outcomes through adequate nutrition and rehabilitation treatment of patients with HAP.

Chefs in Future Integrated Healthcare - Current State and Innovation Needs: A First Overview of the NECTAR Project (aN Eu Curriculum for Chef gasTro-Engineering in Primary Food Care)

People in need of care, chronic or acute, often present problematic food intake and special nutritional needs. Integrated, person-centred and pro-active food and nutritional care delivery has been proven effective for people in health care. However, skills mismatches have been reported in different professions involved, which also applies to the role of chefs in healthcare. The EU funded project NECTAR aims at closing this gap by creating a new job profile, called Chef Gastro-Engineering (CGE). The current publication summarizes the status quo in hospitals and gives a perspective on the future role of chefs in integrated healthcare delivery.

Correlation of Patient Generated-subjective Global Assessment with Serum C-reactive Protein Level in Stage I–IV Head-and-neck Cancer

AIM: This study aims to identify the correlation between patient generated-subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) to be used to predict inflammation and prevent cachexia in head-and-neck cancer patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using 51 patients with inclusion criteria of patients diagnosed with head-and-neck cancer irrespective of stage, age ≥18 years old, had not received treatments of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. The statistical analysis performed was Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, bivariate analysis by Spearman test, and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: As many as 64.7% of the patients had PG-SGA score ≥9 (average PG-SGA score 11.7 ± 6.2). The CRP median value was 6.4 (0.4–170.4) mg/L. There was a statistically significant positive but weak correlation between PG-SGA score with serum CRP (r = 0.372 and p = 0.007) and a significant linear relationship (r2 = 0.201). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition risk assessment using PG-SGA showed a high prevalence of malnutrition risk in head-and-neck cancer patients. PG-SGA score is correlated with serum CRP level. Further studies are needed to confirm the result of this study.

Risk factors for malnutrition among hospitalized gastroenterological patients

Background/Aim. Risk factors for malnutrition of patients during hospitalization have not been precisely deter-mined. The aim of the study was to determine these factors in hospitalized gastroenterological patients. Methods. Nutritional status (NS) of 650 gastroenterological patients was assessed at the hospital admission and at discharge by the six parameters: unintentional weight loss, lymphocyte count, serum albumin concentration, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, and mid-upper arm muscle circumference. The influence on NS at discharge was tested for ten factors: gender, age, affected organ, the nature, severity, and complications of the disease, the length of hospitalization, mobility worsening during hospitalization, Karnofsky score, and NS on admission. Primary and secondary risk factors were defined among the factors significantly influencing malnutrition. Results. Seven factors were found to be the independent predictors for malnutrition in hospitalized gastroenterological patients. NS at admission was considered as a primary risk factor (Forward: Wald multivariate logistic regression analysis, p < 0.001 for five applied assessment parameters). The other six factors, obtained in the evaluation according to 1-3 assessment parameters, were considered as secondary risk factors: severe disease activity, malignancy, the existence of complications, male gender, hospitalization > 14 days, and mobility worsening during the hospitalization (Forward: Wald multivariate logistic regression analysis, p from 0.001 to 0.027). Conclusion. There are seven risk factors for malnutrition among gastroenterological patients during hospitalization. Timely nutritional support in these patients can prevent the development of intrahospital malnutrition and its negative influence on the clinical outcome.

A multi-centre survey on hospital malnutrition: result of PNSI study

Background

Disease-related malnutrition is associated with adverse outcomes such as increased rates of morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and extra costs of health care. This study was conducted to assess nutritional status among patients and to determine the risk factors for malnutrition in Iran university f.

Methods

Persian Nutritional Survey In Hospitals (PNSI) was a cross-sectional study that conducted in 20 university hospitals across Iran. All the patients with age range of 18 to 65 years, who were admitted or discharged, were assessed by subjective global assessment (SGA).

Results

In total, 2109 patients were evaluated for malnutrition. Mean values of age and body mass index were 44.68 ± 14.65 years and 25.44 ± 6.25 kg/m², respectively. Malnutrition (SGA-B & C) was identified in 23.92% of the patients, 26.23 and 21% of whom were among the admitted and discharged patients, respectively. The highest prevalence of malnutrition was in burns (77.70%) and heart surgery (57.84%) patients. Multivariate analysis presented male gender (OR = 1.02, P < 0.00), malignant disease (OR = 1.40, P < 0.00), length of hospital stay (OR = 1.20, P < 0.00), and polypharmacy (OR = 1.06, P < 0.00) as independent risk factors for malnutrition. Malnutrition was not associated with age (P = 0.10).

Conclusion

This study provides an overall and comprehensive illustration of hospital malnutrition in Iran university hospitals, finding that one out of four patients were malnourished; thus, appropriate consideration and measures should be taken to this issue.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12937-021-00741-1.

Inadequate Intake of Energy and Nutrients Is Common in Older Family Caregivers

The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional status, determinants of nutritional status, and adequacy of energy and nutrient intake of older family caregivers (FC). Nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), plasma albumin, plasma pre-albumin, and blood hemoglobin concentrations. Dietary intake was assessed with a three-day food record. Comorbidity (B −0.283, 95% CI: −0.492, −0.073), quality of life (B 0.045, 95% CI: 0.018, 0.072) and energy intake (B 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.002) were significantly associated with the MNA scores of the older FCs (n = 125). It was common for FCs to have lower than recommended intakes of energy and several nutrients, independent of the risk of malnutrition assessed by the MNA. Over half of the FCs had inadequate intake of protein, vitamin A, folate, and fiber, and 25–40% of the FCs had a low intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine, magnesium, iron, and selenium. It is important to follow both the nutritional status and dietary intake of older FCs regularly to find those with lower than recommended nutrient intake and to avoid poor nutritional status and its adverse effects hampering their ability to serve as FCs.

A High Masticatory Muscle Tone Predicts the Risk of Malnutrition and Frailty in Inpatient Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of malnutrition among inpatient older adults is as high as 20∼50%. Masticatory performance is known to affect the nutritional status of individuals. However, an objective measurement to reflect the real status of masticatory muscle performance is lacking at the bedside.

METHODS

This pilot study analyzed the masticatory performance using surface electromyography (sEMG) of masticatory muscles that measures both muscle strength and muscle tone at the bedside. The nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool. The handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer. The statistical data were analyzed using SPSS 25 software.

RESULTS

The data revealed that female inpatient older adults more frequently had substandard handgrip strength (p = 0.028), an at-risk and poor nutritional status (p = 0.005), and a higher masseter muscle tone (p = 0.024). Inpatient older adults with an at-risk and poor nutritional status had an older age (p = 0.016), lower handgrip strength (p = 0.001), and higher average masseter muscle tone (p = 0.01). A high masseter muscle tone predicted the risk of having an at-risk and poor nutritional status. The at-risk or poor nutritional status predicted having a substandard handgrip strength by 5-fold.

CONCLUSIONS

A high masticatory muscle tone predicts malnutrition and frailty. Medical professionals should combat masticatory dysfunction-induced malnutrition by detecting masticatory muscle performance using sEMG and referring patients to dental professionals. Additionally, encouraging inpatient older adults to perform oral motor exercise is recommended.

Prevalence and outcomes of malnutrition among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is inevitable in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to its effect on the gastrointestinal system, immune system, and high metabolic activity. However, the prevalence of malnutrition and its outcomes is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and outcome of malnutrition among patients with COVID-19.

METHOD

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed/Medline; Science direct and LILACS from December 29, 2019 to September, 2020 without language restriction. All observational studies reporting the prevalence of malnutrition were included while case reports and reviews were excluded. The data were extracted with two independent authors with a customized format and the disagreements were resolved by the other authors. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using a standardized critical appraisal tool.

RESULTS

A total of 511 articles were identified from different databases and 27 articles were selected for evaluation after the successive screening. Fourteen articles with 4187 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 49.11% (95% CI: 31.67 to 66.54). The odd of mortality among patients COVID-19 with malnutrition was 10 times more likely as compared to those who were well-nourished.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of malnutrition and mortality associated with malnutrition among COVID-19 hospitalized patients was very high which entails a mitigating strategy by different stakeholders to prevent and manage malnutrition and its outcomes.

REGISTRATION

This systematic review was registered in Prospero's international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42020215396).

Clinical Nutrition and Human Rights. An International Position Paper

The International Working Group for Patients' Right to Nutritional Care presents its position paper regarding nutritional care as a human right intrinsically linked to the right to food and the right to health. All people should have access to food and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy including artificial nutrition and hydration. In this regard, the hospitalized malnourished ill should mandatorily have access to screening, diagnosis, nutritional assessment, with optimal and timely nutritional therapy in order to overcome malnutrition associated morbidity and mortality, while reducing the rates of disease-related malnutrition. This right does not imply there is an obligation to feed all patients at any stage of life and at any cost. On the contrary, this right implies, from an ethical point of view, that the best decision for the patient must be taken and this may include, under certain circumstances, the decision not to feed. Application of the human rights-based approach to the field of clinical nutrition will contribute to the construction of a moral, political, and legal focus to the concept of nutritional care. Moreover, it will be the cornerstone to the rationale of political and legal instruments in the field of clinical nutrition.

Clinical nutrition and human rights. An international position paper

The International Working Group for Patients' Right to Nutritional Care presents its position paper regarding nutritional care as a human right intrinsically linked to the right to food and the right to health. All people should have access to food and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy including artificial nutrition and hydration. In this regard, the hospitalized malnourished ill should mandatorily have access to screening, diagnosis, nutritional assessment, with optimal and timely nutritional therapy in order to overcome malnutrition associated morbidity and mortality, while reducing the rates of disease-related malnutrition. This right does not imply there is an obligation to feed all patients at any stage of life and at any cost. On the contrary, this right implies, from an ethical point of view, that the best decision for the patient must be taken and this may include, under certain circumstances, the decision not to feed. Application of the human rights-based approach to the field of clinical nutrition will contribute to the construction of a moral, political and legal focus to the concept of nutritional care. Moreover, it will be the cornerstone to the rationale of political and legal instruments in the field of clinical nutrition.

Optimizing Inpatient Nutrition Care of Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the 21st Century

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and disproportionately affects those admitted to hospital. Malnutrition is a risk factor for many complications in IBD, including prolonged hospitalization, infection, greater need for surgery, development of venous thromboembolism, post-operative complications, and mortality. Early screening for malnutrition and prompt nutrition intervention if indicated has been shown to prevent or mitigate many of these outlined risk factors. There are many causes of malnutrition in IBD including reduced oral food intake, medications, active inflammation, and prior surgical resections. Hospitalization can further compound pre-existing malnutrition through inappropriate diet restrictions, nil per os (NPO) for endoscopy and imaging, or partial bowel obstruction, resulting in "post-hospital syndrome" after discharge and readmission. The aim of this article is to inform clinicians of the prevalence and consequences of malnutrition in IBD, as well as available screening and assessment tools for diagnosis, and to offer an organized approach to the nutritional care of hospitalized adult IBD patients.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition Research Network: Rationale and Protocol for a Study to Validate the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Consensus-Derived Diagnostic Indicators For Adult And Pediatric Malnutrition and to Determine Optimal Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Staffing in Acute Care Hospital Settings

No systematic, universally accepted method of diagnosing malnutrition in hospitalized patients exists, which may contribute to underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and poorer patient outcomes. To address this issue, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is conducting a cohort study to: assess the predictive validity of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition indicators for the diagnosis of adult and pediatric malnutrition in hospital settings; assess the interrater reliability of the indicators for the diagnosis of adult and pediatric malnutrition; and quantify the level of registered dietitian nutritionist care needed to improve patient outcomes. Up to 60 adult and 60 pediatric hospital sites will collect data to estimate level of registered dietitian nutritionist care, along with patient medical history and Malnutrition Screening Tool (adult) or STRONGkids (pediatric) results. A subset of 600 adult and 600 pediatric patients (∼1:1 screened as high- or low-risk for malnutrition) will be randomly selected for the indicators for the diagnosis of adult and pediatric malnutrition and Nutrition Focused Physical Exam data collection; 100 adult and 100 pediatric patients in this group will also undergo a bioelectrical impedance analysis measurement. Additional nutrition care and medical outcomes (eg, mortality and length of stay) will be collected for a 3-month period after the initial nutrition encounter. Multilevel linear, logistic, Poisson, or Cox regression models will be used to assess indicators for the diagnosis of adult and pediatric malnutrition validity and registered dietitian nutritionist staffing levels as appropriate for each medical outcome. Validation results will allow US clinicians to standardize the way they diagnose malnutrition in hospitalized patients, and the staffing data will support advocacy for available registered dietitian nutritionist-delivered malnutrition treatment to improve patient outcomes.

Nutrition competencies for medicine: an integrative review and critical synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Globally, 11 million deaths are attributable to suboptimal diet annually, and nutrition care has been shown to improve health outcomes. While medically trained clinicians are well-placed to provide nutrition care, medical education remains insufficient to support clinicians to deliver nutrition advice as part of routine clinical practice. Competency standards provide a framework for workforce development and a vehicle for aligning health priorities with the values of a profession. Although, there remains an urgent need to establish consensus on nutrition competencies for medicine. The aim of this review is to provide a critical synthesis of published nutrition competencies for medicine internationally.

DESIGN

Integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Global Health were searched through April 2020.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We included published Nutrition Competency Frameworks. This search was complemented by handsearching reference lists of literature deemed relevant.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data were extracted into summary tables and this matrix was then used to identify common themes and to compare and analyse the literature. Miller's pyramid, the Knowledge to Action Cycle and the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition were also used to consider the results of this review.

RESULTS

Using a predetermined search strategy, 11 articles were identified. Five common themes were identified and include (1) clinical practice, (2) health promotion and disease prevention, (3) communication, (4) working as a team and (5) professional practice. This review also identified 25 nutrition competencies for medicine, the majority of which were knowledge-based.

CONCLUSIONS

This review recommends vertical integration of nutrition competencies into existing medical education based on key, cross-cutting themes and increased opportunities to engage in relevant, skill-based nutrition training.

Validation of Malnutrition Clinical Characteristics in Critically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to validate the Malnutrition Clinical Characteristics (MCC) compared with the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), considering anthropometric measures, comorbidities, and mortality in critically ill patients.

METHODS

This longitudinal observational study included patients admitted to the general intensive care unit (ICU) of a public hospital. SGA was used as the reference standard for diagnosing malnutrition. The inclusion criteria were patients receiving nutrition support therapy and age >18 years. The nutrition therapy was optimized as close as possible to 100% of the patients' energy and protein needs regardless of the access route. Hospital length of stay (LOS), comorbidities on admission, and death were documented during the entire hospitalization of each patient. Body mass index (BMI), midarm circumference (MAC), and calf circumference (CC) were considered anthropometric measures.

RESULTS

The convenience sample comprised 102 ICU patients. Comparing the original malnutrition classifications of SGA with MCC, the specificity was 87.5%, sensitivity was 100%, accuracy was 93.3%, positive predictive value was 87.5%, and negative predictive value was 100%. When classified in 2 groups, namely "well-nourished" and "malnourished," specificity and sensitivity were 100% between both groups. Malnourished patients had significantly higher mortality rates (P = .006) and longer LOSs (P <.001). As expected, BMI, MAC, and CC results were similar for SGA and MCC.

CONCLUSIONS

MCC was a valid tool for classifying malnutrition in ICU patients. Because the evaluation is fast and does not require expensive equipment that is difficult to handle, it is believed to be practical, low-cost, and easy to use.

Quality of life, symptoms and dietary habits in oncology outpatients with malnutrition: A cross-sectional study

Cancer-related malnutrition has a high prevalence, reduces survival and increases side effects. The aim of this study was to assess oncology outpatients and risk of malnutrition. Reported symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in patients found to be at risk of malnutrition or malnourished were compared to patients without malnutrition. Using a standardized questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Quality of Life and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), patients in an outpatient cancer clinic undergoing chemotherapy treatment at a German University Hospital were assessed for nutrition, risk of malnutrition and quality of life. Based on the MNA, 39 (45.9%) patients were categorized as malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. Loss of appetite (n = 37.6%, p < 0.001) and altered taste sensation (n = 30,3%, p < 0.001) were the symptoms most frequently associated with reduced food intake. Patients with risk of malnutrition scored lower on the global health status (n = 48.15%, p = 0.001). Side effects of cancer treatments lead to a higher risk of malnutrition and as a consequence lower QoL. These side effects should be addressed more efficiently in cancer care.

Nutritional Deficiencies in Radiotherapy-Treated Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Nutritional deficiencies (malnutrition, cachexia, sarcopenia, and unfavorable changes in the body composition) developing as a side effect of radiotherapy (RT) currently represents a significant but still inaccurately studied clinical problem in cancer patients. The incidence of malnutrition observed in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients in oncological radiology departments can reach 80%. The presence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia is associated with an unfavorable prognosis of the disease, higher mortality, and deterioration of the quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to identify patients with a high risk of both metabolic syndromes. However, the number of studies investigating potential predictive markers for the mentioned purposes is still significantly limited. This literature review summarizes the incidence of nutritional deficiencies in HNC patients prior to therapy and after the commencement of RT, and presents recent perspectives for the prediction of unfavorable nutritional changes developing as a result of applied RT.

The effect of malnutrition at admission on length of hospital stay among adult patients in developing country: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition in hospitalized adults is a highly prevalent problem. During hospital admission, nutritional care and nutritional screenings are often overlooked components of the health care facilities in developing countries. Identifying patients who are at risk of malnutrition at admission are vital to ameliorate clinical outcomes. Therefore, the present study was aimed at assessing the magnitude of hospital malnutrition at the time of admission and evaluates its effect on the length of hospital stay among adult patients.

METHOD

We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients ≥18 years admitted in Tikur Anbessa Specialized hospital in Ethiopia. At admission, patient's nutritional status was assessed within 48 h using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). The main clinical outcome, length of stay in hospital (LOS) was captured for patients in days. We ran a multivariate Cox's regression analysis to determine the relationship between malnutrition at admission and its effect on LOS.

RESULT

Four hundred seventeen patients were enrolled. Based on Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), 62.1% were malnourished. The mean (SD) length of hospital stay for all patients admitted was 13.84 days ± 7.53, with a significant difference (p < 0.01) in length of stay between malnourished patients and well-nourished patients. Malnourished patients had significantly longer hospital stays (17.2 ± 6.8 days) than well-nourished patients (8.3 ± 4.9 days) during 30 days observations. The multivariate Cox's regression model controlled for age, sex, living conditions, number of medications, and number of diagnostic categories, disease severity score, number of comorbidities and presence of cancer found that malnutrition at admission was independently associated with prolonged LOS (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.29; 95% CI, 0.22,0.38).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition at admission was highly prevalent and was highly associated with prolonged length of hospital stay. Therefore, it is essential to assess the nutritional status of patients early in admission and to institute appropriate nutritional therapy.

A multinational observational study of clinical nutrition practice in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery: The Nutrition Insights Day

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients undergoing major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, particularly those with malignancies, have a high risk for malnutrition, requiring perioperative nutritional support to reduce complications. During the Nutrition Insights Day (NID), nutritional data of this patient population were documented in seven Asian countries.

METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of nutritional status, calorie/protein targets/intake, and type of clinical nutrition for up to 5 days before NID.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Adult patients following major GI surgery, pre-existing/at (high) risk for malnutrition, on enteral (EN) and/or parenteral nutrition (PN) and latest surgery within 10 days before the NID.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Burns, mechanical ventilation on NID, oral nutrition and/or oral nutritional supplements (ONS) on the day before the NID, and emergency procedures.

RESULTS

536 patients from 83 hospitals, mean age 58.8 ± 15.1 years, 59.1% males, were eligible. Leading diagnosis were GI diseases (48.7%) and GI cancer (45.9%). Malnutrition risk was moderate to high in 54% of patients, low in 46%. Hospital length of stay (LOS) before the NID was 9.3 ± 19.0 days, and time since last surgery 3.7 ± 2.4 days. Lowest caloric/protein deficits were observed in patients receiving EN + PN, followed by PN alone and EN alone. Type of clinical nutrition, Body Mass Index and LOS on surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and/or surgical ward were independent predictors of caloric and of protein deficit.

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of postoperative nutritional deficits in Asian GI surgery patients, who are either preoperatively malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, indicating a need to improve nutritional support and education.

Impact of preoperative malnutrition, based on albumin level and body mass index, on operative outcomes in patients with pancreatic head cancer

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether preoperative malnutrition in patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in pancreatic head cancer correlated with short-term outcomes.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of medical records from January 2004 to December 2018. Preoperative malnutrition was defined as body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m² , or hypoalbuminemia with serum albumin level < 3.5 g/dL within 30 days before surgery.

RESULTS

Of the 289 eligible patients, 60 patients (20.7%) were classified as the malnutrition group. The estimated blood loss (EBL, mL) (964.1 ± 879.7 vs 597.7 ± 501.7, P = .044) and transfusion rate (51.7% vs 18.8%, P < .001) was significantly higher in the malnutrition group than no-malnutrition group. The hospital stay (days) (20.5 ± 12.2 vs 18.1 ± 13.6, P = .05) was significantly longer in the malnutrition group. The open conversion rate (45.4% vs 6.67%, P < .001) and major complication rate (36.7% vs 21.8%, P = .032) was significantly higher in the malnutrition group. In multivariate analysis, preoperative malnutrition was found to be the predictor of postoperative complication (HR 1.971 95% confidence interval 1.071-3.624, P = .029).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative malnutrition in patients who underwent curative PD for pancreatic head cancer is associated with adverse short-term outcomes.

Feasibility of substituting handgrip strength for muscle mass as a constituent standard in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition for diagnosing malnutrition in patients with gastrointestinal cancers

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of substituting handgrip strength (HGS) for muscle mass as a constituent in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) to diagnose malnourished patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

METHODS

The study included 2209 patients diagnosed with GI cancer from two centers. All patients were evaluated for nutritional risk using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 within 24 h of admission. The GLIM consensus was then used to diagnose malnourished patients. The evaluation of muscle mass as one of the constituents contained in the GLIM consensus was measured by computed tomography presented as skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and HGS, respectively. Consistency test was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic value of SMI and HGS.

RESULTS

There were 1042 (47.2%) cases of gastric cancer and 1167 (52.8%) cases of colorectal cancer. Among these cases were 768 patients (34.8%) at nutritional risk. Furthermore, 603 (27.3%) and 593 patients (26.8%) were diagnosed with malnutrition in the GLIM (SMI) group and the GLIM (HGS) group, respectively, and 544 (24.6%) patients in the two groups overlapped. The consistency test results showed that the κ value in the GLIM (HGS) group compared with the GLIM (SMI) group was 0.881 (P < 0.001) in patients with gastric cancer and 0.872 (P < 0.001) in those with colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION

HGS can be a substitute for muscle mass as a constituent in the diagnostic criteria of GLIM in patients with GI cancer.

Determination of calorie and protein intake among acute and sub-acute traumatic brain injury patients

PURPOSE

Malnutrition is a common problem among hospitalized patients, especially among traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. It is developed from hypermetabolism and the condition may worsen under the circumstance of underfeeding or incompatible dietary management. However, the data of nutrient intake especially calorie and protein among TBI patients were scarce. Hence, this study aimed to determine the calorie and protein intake among acute and sub-acute TBI patients receiving medical nutrition therapy in hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Terengganu.

METHODS

This observational study involved 50 patients recruited from the neurosurgical ward. Method of 24 h dietary recall was utilized and combined with self-administered food diaries for 2-8 days. Food consumptions including calorie intake and protein intake were analyzed using Nutritionist PRO™ (Woodinville, USA) and manual calculation based on the Malaysian food composition database (2015).

RESULTS

Patients consisted of 56% males and 44% females with the median age of 28.0 (IQR = 22.8-36.5) years, of which 92% were diagnosed as mild TBI and the remaining (8%) as moderate TBI. The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was adopted to classify TBI severity with the score 13-15 being mild and 9-12 being moderate. The median length of hospital stay was 2 (IQR = 2.0-3.3) days. Calorie and protein intake improved significantly from day 1 to discharge day. However, the intake during discharge day was still considered as suboptimal, i.e. 75% of calorie requirement, whilst the median protein intake was only 61.3% relative to protein requirement. Moreover, the average percentages of calorie and protein intakes throughout hospitalization were remarkably lower, i.e. 52.2% and 41.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although the calorie and protein intakes had increased from baseline, hospitalized TBI patients were still at a risk to develop malnutrition as the average intakes were considerably low as compared to their requirements. Optimum nutrient intakes especially calorie and protein are crucial to ensure optimum recovery process as well as to minimize risks of infection and complications.

[Geriatric intensive care : Consensus paper of DGIIN, DIVI, DGAI, DGGG, ÖGGG, ÖGIAIN, DGP, DGEM, DGD, DGNI, DGIM, DGKliPha and DGG]

The proportion of elderly, frail, and multimorbid people has increased dramatically in recent decades resulting from demographic changes and will further increase, which will impact acute medical care. Prospective, randomized studies on geriatric intensive care are still lacking. There are also no international or national recommendations regarding the management of critically ill elderly patients. Based on an expert opinion, this consensus paper provides 16 statements that should be considered when dealing with geriatric critical care patients.

Preoperative Nutritional Status and Its Consequences on Abdominal Surgery in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Observational Study

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with wound healing and length of hospitalization among patients undergoing abdominal surgery admitted to hospitals in the Wolaita zone in southern Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based prospective observational study was conducted in three hospitals in the Wolaita zone from August to October 2016. All eligible individuals aged between 19 and 55 years were recruited in this study. Anthropometric and biochemical analyses, such as serum albumin (Alb) and total lymphocyte count (TLC), were taken for nutritional assessment during the preoperative period. Quantitative variables were compared using Student's t test. Cox's regression was employed to determine which variables were possible risk factors for poor wound healing. Results. A total of 105 patients aged 19 to 55 with a mean age (±SD) of 34 ± 9.6 years were included, and the prevalence of preoperative malnutrition was 27.6%, 87%, according to BMI and nutritional risk index, respectively. Poor wound healing was significantly associated with underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) (AHR: 6.5 : 95%CI: 3.312.9), postoperative weight loss (AHR: 4.9; 95%CI: 2.8–8.5), and nutritional risk index (NRI) less than 97.5 (AHR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.09–3.1). Conclusion. The prevalence of malnutrition is high in our study setup; this is associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Therefore, our results emphasize the need of routine preoperative nutritional assessment, optimizing nutritional status of patients and postoperative nutritional support.

Hospital malnutrition in northeast and southeast Asia: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hospital malnutrition is a prevalent yet frequently under-recognised condition that is associated with adverse clinical and economic consequences. Systematic reviews from various regions of the world have provided regional estimates of the prevalence of malnutrition and the magnitude of the associated health and economic burden; however, a systematic assessment of the prevalence and consequences of hospital malnutrition in northeast and southeast Asia has not been conducted.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search for articles on hospital malnutrition in 11 Asian countries published in English between January 1, 1997 and January 15, 2018. Studies reporting data on the prevalence, clinical consequences, or economic impact of hospital malnutrition in an adult inpatient population with a sample size ≥30 were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 3207 citations; of these, 92 studies (N = 62,280) met the criteria for inclusion. There was substantial variability in study populations and assessment methods; however, a majority of studies reported a malnutrition prevalence of >40%. Malnutrition was associated with an increase in clinical complications, mortality, length of hospitalisation, hospital readmissions, and healthcare costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital malnutrition is a highly prevalent condition among hospitalised patients in northeast and southeast Asia. Additionally, poor nutritional status is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and increased healthcare costs. Further research aimed at improving the identification and proactive management of hospitalised patients at risk for malnutrition is necessary to improve patient outcomes and alleviate the burden on local healthcare budgets.

High prevalence of malnutrition in Internal Medicine wards - a multicentre ANUMEDI study

BACKGROUND

Disease-related malnutrition is a significant problem in hospitalized patients, with high prevalence rates depending on the studied population. Internal Medicine wards are the backbone of the hospital setting. However, prevalence and determinants of malnutrition in these patients remain unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in Internal Medicine wards and to identify and characterize malnourished patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational multicentre study was performed in Internal Medicine wards of 24 Portuguese hospitals during 2017. Demographics, hospital admissions during the previous year, type of admission, primary diagnosis, Charlson comorbidity index, and education level were registered. Malnutrition at admission was assessed using Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Demographic characteristics were compared between well-nourished and malnourished patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of malnutrition.

RESULTS

729 participants were included (mean age 74 years, 51% male). Main reason for admission was respiratory disease (32%). Mean Charlson comorbidity index was 5.8 ± 2.8. Prevalence of malnutrition was 73% (56% moderate/suspected malnutrition and 17% severe malnutrition), and 54% had a critical need for multidisciplinary intervention (PG-SGA score ≥9). No education (odds ratio [OR] 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-3.04), hospital admissions during previous year (OR 1.53, 95%CI: 1.05-2.26), and multiple comorbidities (OR 1.22, 95%CI: 1.14-1.32) significantly increased the odds of being malnourished.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of malnutrition in the Internal Medicine population is very high, with the majority of patients having critical need for multidisciplinary intervention. Low education level, admissions during previous year, and multiple comorbidities increase the odds of being malnourished.

Immunometabolism: new insights and lessons from antigen-directed cellular immune responses

Modulation of immune responses by nutrients is an important area of study in cellular biology and clinical sciences in the context of cancer therapies and anti-pathogen-directed immune responses in health and disease. We review metabolic pathways that influence immune cell function and cellular persistence in chronic infections. We also highlight the role of nutrients in altering the tissue microenvironment with lessons from the tumor microenvironment that shapes the quality and quantity of cellular immune responses. Multiple layers of biological networks, including the nature of nutritional supplements, the genetic background, previous exposures, and gut microbiota status have impact on cellular performance and immune competence against molecularly defined targets. We discuss how immune metabolism determines the differentiation pathway of antigen-specific immune cells and how these insights can be explored to devise better strategies to strengthen anti-pathogen-directed immune responses, while curbing unwanted, non-productive inflammation.