The Role of Early Nutritional Intervention in Preventing In-Hospital Complications Among Patients in the Medical Ward

Introduction Malnutrition is a common yet often overlooked issue in hospitalized patients, contributing to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and delayed recovery. Early nutritional intervention may help mitigate these risks. Objective This study aims to evaluate the role of early nutritional intervention in preventing in-hospital complications among medical ward patients. Methodology This retrospective observational study was conducted over a 12-month period at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, and included 189 adult patients admitted to medical wards. Patients were divided into two groups: an intervention group (n = 95), which received both early nutritional screening (within 48 hours of admission) and at least one form of support (oral supplements, enteral feeding, or dietitian consultation), and a control group (n = 94), which did not receive such interventions. Data on demographics, nutritional status, interventions, and outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis included t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results Early nutritional support significantly reduced the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (12/95; 12.6% vs. 28/94; 29.8%, p = 0.004), pressure ulcers (4/95; 4.2% vs. 15/94; 16.0%, p = 0.009), and delayed wound healing (7/95; 7.4% vs. 19/94; 20.2%, p = 0.015). The intervention group also had a shorter mean hospital stay (7.2 ± 3.1 vs. 9.4 ± 4.6 days, p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that absence of early nutrition and age > 60 years were independent predictors of complications. Conclusion Early nutritional intervention is linked to reduced complications and shorter hospital stays. Routine nutritional screening with timely support should be integrated into standard inpatient care.