Associations between nutritional risk at hospital admission and incidence of complications, hospitalization time and mortality

• Published in: Revista chilena de nutrición 2020-12, Vol.47 (6), p.898-905
• Main Authors: Simões, Shirley Kelly dos Santos, Silva, Renata Reis de Lima e, França, Ana Karla da Silva, Burgos, Maria Goretti Pessoa de Araújo, Cabral, Poliana Coelho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: NUTRITION & DIETETICS
• ISSN: 0717-7518; 0717-7518
• DOI: 10.4067/S0717-75182020000600898

ABSTRACT The early identification of nutritional risk is essential for the earliest possible implementation of nutritional therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between nutritional risk and the incidence of clinical complications. An observational study was conducted at the internal medicine infirmary of a Brazilian public hospital involving patients admitted between January 2016 and December 2017. The NRS-2002, anthropometrics and laboratory exams (initial and final) were used for the evaluation of nutritional risk. The prevalence of nutritional risk was 63.6%. Nutritional risk upon admission to hospital was associated with the occurrence of complications, a longer hospitalization time and death. In correlation analysis, considering anthropometrics and laboratory exams compared to hospitalization time and time elapsed prior to the onset of the diet, serum albumin was inversely correlated with both hospitalization time and nutritional risk. Based on the present findings, knowledge on the nutritional status of patients and adequate nutritional therapy can lead to fewer complications during hospitalization.