Nutrition Programs: A Cost-Effective Approach to Addressing Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients
Between 30 and 50% of patients are malnourished or at-risk of malnutrition on hospital admission. Malnutrition is associated with poor outcomes and increased costs.
Assessing the Budget Impact of a Nutrition-Focused Quality Improvement Program.
To evaluate the potential budget impact of a nutrition-focused quality improvement program for malnourished hospitalized patients, a study utilized previously-published outcomes data.
The study focused on outcomes such as length of stay, 30-day readmissions, and infectious/non-infectious complications. A Markov model was developed to compare patients who received early nutrition therapy (initiated within 24-48 hours of hospital admission) with those who received standard nutrition therapy (not started early). The model had a 60-day time horizon and estimated event probabilities based on published data.
Cost Savings of Early Nutrition Therapy
The study found that patients who received early nutrition therapy (initiated within 24-48 hours of hospital admission) had significantly lower average total costs over a 60-day period compared to patients with delayed nutrition therapy.
The average total costs for patients with delayed nutrition therapy were $3770, while patients with early nutrition therapy had average total costs of $2419. This represents a savings of $1351 per nutrition-treated patient, which corresponds to a 35.8% decrease in costs.
The cost differences between the two groups were further analyzed. Patients with delayed nutrition therapy had higher costs in various categories compared to those with early nutrition therapy. Specifically, the cost differences were as follows:
Hospital-associated costs: $2703 vs $1600 Readmissions: $883 vs $665 Complications: $176 vs $94
These findings highlight the potential cost savings associated with implementing a nutrition care program for hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition. The study estimated that for an estimated 638,318 hospitalized Colombian patients at malnutrition risk, the potential cost savings could amount to $862.6 million per year.
Conclusion
The study's findings emphasize the importance of early nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition. Implementing a nutrition-focused quality improvement program can lead to significant cost savings by reducing hospital-associated costs, readmissions, and complications. These cost savings not only benefit the healthcare system but also contribute to improved patient outcomes and overall quality of care. Strategies aimed at preventing and treating malnutrition in the hospital and post-discharge settings are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31917050/
