[Nutritional status in hospitalized patients in a public hospital in Mexico City]

To determine the frequency of malnutrition among hospitalized patients and to relate nutrition status with body mass index, fasting time, adequacy intake of protein and energy during hospitalization and length of stay. METHODS (STUDY POPULATION, SUBJECTS, INTERVENTION): We evaluated weight loss in the last 6 months prior to admission, body mass index (BMI), ideal and usual body weight percentages, days of hospitalization, energy and protein intake adequacy, fasting days and cause in hospitalized patients at different wards at Hospital General de Mexico. Patients were divided into groups according to their nutritional status (at risk/with malnutrition or normal) and data was assessed descriptively and comparatively by t-tests to determine mean differences.

We assessed 561 hospitalized patients. We found different frequencies of malnutrition according to various indicators: 21.17% according to BMI, 38.07% and 19.57% by percentages of habitual and ideal weights--respectively-- and a weight loss in 69.57% of the patients. Mean daily energy intake was found to be of 1,061+/-432.7 kcal, while mean protein intake was 42.1 + 22.7 g, representing only the 69.4% and 54.9% of the energy and protein requirements. We found statically significant differences among malnourished and normal patients in relation to BMI (p < 0.001), length of stay (p < 0.05), energy adequacy (p < 0.001) and protein intake (p < 0.05).

Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients. An important factor in hospital malnutrition is the lack of compliance in the patient's requirements, preventing a fast recovery and increasing their length of stay. Thus, it is important to make changes and improvements in the institutional health system so that there is trained personnel in order to provide and adequate nutrition care attention to the critically ill patient, improving their condition and general prognosis.