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Nutritional status of patients hospitalised in Poland
J Dzieniszewski1, M Jarosz, B Szczygieł
1Department of Dietetic and Nutrition in Hospital with Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Powslnska 61/63 Warsaw, Poland. m.jarosz@izz.waw.pl
Insights
Hospitalized patients in Poland face significant nutritional risks, with malnutrition evident on admission and worsening during their stay. Over half experienced vitamin C deficiency, highlighting a critical need for nutritional intervention.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Public Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nutritional status assessment is crucial for hospitalized patients.
- Previous studies indicate varying malnutrition prevalence in hospital settings.
- Understanding nutritional risks aids in developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen and assess the nutritional status of hospitalized patients upon admission and discharge.
- To identify the prevalence of malnutrition and specific nutrient deficiencies.
- To investigate the correlation between nutritional status and hospital stay duration.
Main Methods:
- Conducted screening and extended nutritional assessments in 3310 and 210 patients, respectively, across various Polish hospitals.
- Utilized anthropometric measurements (BMI, WHR) and biochemical markers (serum albumin, lymphocyte count).
- Assessed vitamin levels (A, C, E, B12, folic acid) during extended examinations.
Main Results:
- 10.43% of patients had low BMI (<20 kg/m²), and 20.74% had low serum albumin (<3.5 g/dl) on admission, indicating malnutrition risk.
- Nutritional status deteriorated during hospitalization, with increased rates of low BMI and low albumin on discharge.
- High prevalence of vitamin deficiencies was observed, including 51.8% with vitamin C deficiency, affecting all weight categories.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of hospitalized patients in Poland are at nutritional risk, evidenced by low BMI and biochemical markers.
- Vitamin malnutrition is widespread among hospitalized patients.
- Nutritional status, particularly lymphocyte count and BMI, correlates with hospital stay duration.
Aim:
Screening and extended assessment of the nutritional status of patients on admission and on discharge from hospital were carried out.
Description:
The studies were carried out in four teaching hospitals, four provincial hospitals and four county hospitals in Poland.
Subjects:
Screening examinations were carried out for 3310 randomly selected patients (every 10th patient admitted to hospital, including 1916 female cases aged from 16 to 92 y and 1394 male patients aged from 16 to 100 y). Extended examinations were carried out on 210 patients aged from 16 to 87 y (including 122 female and 88 male). MAIN ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS: Anthropometric (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), arm circumference) and biochemical indices (erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, blood lymphocyte count and serum albumin serum concentration). The extended examinations included determination of antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E), vitamin B(12) and folic acid.
Results:
On admission to hospital, 10.43% of the patients surveyed had a BMI below 20 kg/m(2), in 20.74% of patients serum albumin concentration was below 3.5 g/dl, indicating possible protein energy malnutrition. In addition, 21.02% had lymphocyte count below 1.5 x 10(3)/mm(3). During hospitalisation, deterioration in the nutritional status of the patient population occurred. On discharge from hospital, the percentage of patients with BMI < 20 kg/m(2) increased to 11.21% and the percentage with low blood albumin (<3.5 g/dl) increased to 28.57%. On admission, vitamin C deficiency was present in 51.8% of patients, folic acid deficiency in 32%, vitamin E deficiency in 10%, vitamin B(12) deficiency in 6.8% and vitamin A deficiency in 1.4%. Vitamin deficiencies were present equally in malnourished, overweight and obese patients.
Conclusions:
In patients admitted to hospitals in Poland, malnutrition risk demonstrated by BMI was observed in 10.43% of patients. On the basis of biochemical indices, increased nutritional risk was demonstrated in 21% of patients. Vitamin malnutrition was seen in the majority of patients. A significant correlation between weight, BMI, arm circumference, blood lymphocyte count and the number of days spent in hospital was observed.
Sponsorship:
The Committee of Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health-PBZ 012-14.
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