Malnutrition and Hospitalisation

A study conducted in the University Hospital in Singapore aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its impact on hospitalization outcomes and costs, while controlling for Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG)

Malnutrition has been found to have a significant impact on various aspects of hospitalization, including the cost of hospitalization, length of stay, readmission rates, and 3-year mortality.

In a study conducted in a tertiary hospital in Singapore, the prevalence of malnutrition among 818 adults was determined using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool. The study aimed to assess the impact of malnutrition on hospitalization outcomes over a period of 3 years, while controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, and matching for Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG)

The study found that malnutrition was evident in approximately 29% of the inpatients. These malnourished patients had longer hospital stays, with an average of 6.9-7.3 days compared to non-malnourished patients.

Based on the search results, it is evident that malnutrition has a significant impact on hospitalization outcomes, costs, and mortality. Here are the key findings:

The prevalence of malnutrition among inpatients can be as high as one-third of the population . Malnutrition leads to poor hospitalization outcomes, including longer lengths of stay, increased readmission rates, and higher mortality rates . The impact of malnutrition on hospitalization costs is also notable. Malnourished patients have higher treatment costs compared to well-nourished patients. Within a Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG), the actual cost of hospitalization for malnourished patients is greater than the average cost for well-nourished patients

Malnutrition is a significant predictor of mortality, with higher mortality rates observed in malnourished patients at 1, 2, and 3 years

These findings highlight the importance of addressing malnutrition in hospitals to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance survival rates. Strategies to prevent and treat malnutrition should be implemented both during hospitalization and post-discharge

Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22122869/

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The Posthorax Team.