Nutritional changes and effects in hospitalized patients

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Internal Medicine
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Hospitalization can significantly alter a patient's physiological state.
• Nutritional status is a critical component of patient recovery and overall health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of hospitalization within internal disease clinics on key nutritional variables.
• To assess changes in anthropometric and laboratory-based nutrition parameters from admission to discharge.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 208 patients admitted to Internal Diseases Clinics at a University Hospital in Turkey.
• Evaluation of clinical nutrition parameters using anthropometric measurements and laboratory results at admission and discharge.
• Analysis of demographic factors to determine their influence on nutritional changes.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases were observed in body weight, body mass index, waist and hip measurements, skinfold thickness, and body adipose mass (p<0.05).
• All clinical laboratory parameters related to fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism showed statistically significant decreases (p<0.05).
• Demographic characteristics did not influence the observed decline in nutritional parameters (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Hospitalization in internal medicine wards is associated with a decline in multiple nutritional parameters.
• These nutritional deficits are likely linked to alterations in fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism.
• Continuous monitoring of nutritional parameters during hospitalization is recommended to prevent adverse changes.