[Introducing a mixed nutritional screening tool (CIPA) in a tertiary hospital]

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Internal Medicine
• Nutritional Assessment

Context:

• Hospital malnutrition is a prevalent issue, impacting patient outcomes.
• Effective screening methods are crucial for early detection and intervention.
• The CIPA (Control of Intakes, BMI, Proteins, Albumin) screening method was developed to address this need.

Purpose:

• To determine the prevalence of malnutrition within an Internal Medicine Department.
• To identify patient characteristics and conditions associated with a higher risk of malnutrition.
• To evaluate the CIPA screening tool's effectiveness in identifying malnourished patients.

Summary:

• A retrospective review of 305 patients utilized the CIPA screening tool.
• Malnutrition was identified in 23% of patients, associated with lower BMI and specific pathologies (neoplastic, infectious).
• Positive screening results correlated with longer hospital stays, higher readmission rates, and increased mortality.

Impact:

• The CIPA screening test accurately detects hospital malnutrition.
• Positive CIPA results serve as a predictor of adverse clinical prognosis, including mortality and prolonged hospitalization.
• Implementing CIPA can aid in identifying at-risk patients for timely management and improved outcomes.