Jesús Barreto Penié, M.D.
Received 8 June 2004; accepted 9 August 2004
Abstract
Objective
We assessed the current state of undernutrition as observed in 1905
patients hospitalized in 12 Cuban health care institutions, as part of
a Latin American, multinational survey similar in design and goals.
Methods
We surveyed 1905 randomly selected patients from 12 Cuban hospitals in
a two-phase study. Patients' clinical charts were audited in phase 1,
the Subjective Global Assessment was used to assess patients'
nutritional status in phase 2. The study was locally conducted by a
properly trained team.
Results
The frequency of undernutrition in Cuban hospitals was 41.2% (95%
confidence interval = 38.9 to 43.4), and 11.1% of patients were
considered severely undernourished. Statistically significant (P <
0.05) univariate relations were identified between undernutrition and
patient's age and sex. Nutritional status was a dependent of the
patient's instruction level (P < 0.05). Patients' nutritional status
was statistically associated with the presence of cancer and
infection. Undernutrition was highly prevalent among cancer patients,
no matter the stage of medical or surgical treatment. Undernutrition
became extremely frequent after surgical treatment in non-cancer
patients. High nutritional risks hospital services/specialties were
identified: geriatrics (56.3%), critical care (54.8%), nephrology
(54.3%), internal medicine (48.6%), gastroenterology (46.5%), and
cardiovascular surgery (44.8%). Malnutrition rates increased
progressively with prolonged length of stay.
Conclusion
A high malnutrition rate was observed among participating hospitals.
The design and inception of policies that foster intervention programs
focusing on early identification of hospital malnutrition and its
timely management is suggested to decrease its deleterious effects on
outcomes of health care in the participating hospitals.
http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/PIIS0899900705000195/abstract
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