Assessment of nutritional status in adult hospitalized patients

140 adult hospitalized Thai patients were assessed for their nutritional status. The prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition in these patients based on various parameters was as follows: 73.2% according to weight-height, 80.0% accroding to triceps skinfold thickness, 60.7% according to upper arm muscle circumference, 50.4% according to hair root morphology and 66.2% according to serum albumin level. These data reflected the disproportionate loss of the patients' body tissues. Severity of protein-calorie malnutrition was also detected by physical signs. Anemia and vitamin deficiencies were present in some of the patients. This study signifies that intensive nutritional management should be done to combat hospital malnutrition.