[Malnutrition in children admitted to hospital. Results of a national survey]

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition on admission is closely related to a longer hospital stay and a higher morbidity. The prevalence of hospital malnutrition has been reported as almost as high as 50%, with 6% being the lowest. DHOSPE study investigates nutrition status in Spanish hospitals and its outcome during the hospital stay.

Patients and methods: A longitudinal, multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with a short follow-up period was conducted in 32 hospitals during 2011. A total of 991 patients were included, with ages from 0 to 17 years. Each patient was measured at admission (weight, length, weight for length -W/L-, length for age -L/A-), and at 7 and 14 days. The STAMP nutritional screening tool was completed on admission. Anthropometric measurements were reported as z-score, and nutrition status classified according to W/L and L/A for acute and chronic malnutrition, respectively.

Results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 7.1% for moderate, and 0.7% for severe acute malnutrition. For chronic malnutrition, it was 2.7% moderate, and 1.4% severe. There were significant differences according to the underlying condition but not according to age. Results of STAMP show that around 75% of patients had a moderate to high risk of malnutrition. Nutritional status changed during admission for weight, as well as W/L and L/A. A worst nutritional status at admission and a higher STAMP score were positively correlated with the need for nutrition support.

Conclusions: The prevalence of undernutrition was slightly lower (<8%) than previously reported, probably in relation to the variety of hospitals in the survey. Nevertheless, nutritional risk when evaluated with STAMP showed a high risk of malnutrition.

Keywords: Cribado nutricional; Desnutrición hospitalaria; Estado nutricional; Hospital admission; Hospital malnutrition; Hospitalización; Malnutrición; Nutritional assessment; Nutritional screening; Nutritional status; Undernutrition; Valoración nutricional.