Background: Malnutrition affects more than half of patients with stroke. Although malnutrition leads to more deaths, a longer hospital stay, and higher costs, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the impact of malnutrition on physical functional outcomes in patients with stroke, and there are large differences in the diagnostic effects of nutritional screening or assessment tools for malnutrition. This study aimed to explore the impact of malnutrition in patients with stroke and assess the significance of current nutritional screening and assessment tools for these patients.
Methods: Six databases were systematically searched until October 2022. Cohort studies meeting the eligibility criteria were included. Pooled effects were calculated using random-effects models.
Results: Twenty-six studies with 21,115 participants were included. The pooled effects of malnutrition on poor functional outcome, FIM points, and dysphagia were OR = 2.72 (95% CI = 1.84-4.06), WMD = -19.42(95% CI = -32.87--5.96), and OR = 2.80 (95% CI = 1.67-4.67), respectively.
Conclusion: Malnutrition adversely affects the recovery of physical and swallowing functions in patients with stroke. Nutritional assessments consistently predict the outcomes of physical function in patients with stroke.
Keywords: malnutrition; nutritional assessment; nutritional screening; outcome; stroke.