[Malnutrition in hospitalized patients: a prospective and randomized study]

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), is probably underestimated in our hospitals. We did this study with the aim of knowing the incidence, distribution and evolution of PEM in a University Hospital with 538 beds.

301 hospitalized patients, randomly selected, were subjected to a nutritional evaluation upon admittance and after 7 days, by determining albumin and body weigh/ideal weight ratio.

The age was 56.7 +/- 18.4 years (x +/- SD), the hospital stay was 7.84 +/- 7.12 days, 194 patients were hospitalized in Medical departments and 107 in Surgical or Medical-surgical departments. The incidence of PEM upon admittance was n = 160 (53%): mild in 93 (30.89%), moderate in 56 (18.60%), and severe in 11 (3.65%). The patients who continued to be hospitalized after 7 days were n = 99 (32.89%), and in these patients the incidence of PEM was n = 66 (66.6%): mild in 33 (33.3%), moderate in 30 (30.3%), and severe in 3 (3.3%). The incidence of PEM was higher at more advanced age (p < 0.05), in patients hospitalized in medical departments (p < 0.05) or in those subjected to surgery (p < 0.05). The hospital stay was longer in those patients who presented PEM upon admittance (p < 0.05).

Malnutrition has an increased incidence in hospitalized patients, it is higher in patients of advanced age or subjected to surgery, and it increases during their stay. The existence of malnutrition upon admittance is related to a longer hospital stay.