Luma Henry Namme, Eloumou Servais Albert Fiacre Bagnaka, Mboligong Franklin Ngu, Temfack Elvis, Donfack Olivier-Tresor, Doualla Marie-Solange
Douala General Hospital, P.O. Box 4856, Douala, Cameroon.
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
BMC Res Notes. 2017 Jul 3;10(1):238. doi: 10.1186/s13104-017-2592-y.
Malnutrition is common in acutely ill patients occurring in 30-50% of hospitalized patients. Awareness and screening for malnutrition is lacking in most health institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at screening for malnutrition using anthropometric and laboratory indices in patients admitted to the internal medicine wards.
A cross-sectional study. We screened for malnutrition in 251 consecutive patients admitted from January to March 2013 in the internal medicine wards. Malnutrition defined as body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 kg/m and/or mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 22 cm in women and 23 cm in men. Weight loss greater than 10% in the last 6 months prior to admission, relevant laboratory data, diagnosis at discharge and length of hospital stay (LOS) were also recorded.
Mean age was 47 (SD 16) years. 52.6% were male. Mean BMI was 24.44 (SD 5.79) kg/m and MUAC was 27.8 (SD 5.0) cm. Median LOS was 7 (IQR 5-12) days. 42.4% of patients reported weight loss greater than 10% in the 6 months before hospitalization. MUAC and BMI correlated significantly (r = 0.78; p < 0.0001) and malnutrition by the two methods showed moderate agreement (κ = 0.56; p < 0.0001). Using the two methods in combination, the prevalence of malnutrition was 19.34% (35/251). Blood albumin and hemoglobin were significantly lower in malnourished patients. Malnourished patients had a significantly longer LOS (p = 0.019) when compared to those with no malnutrition. Malnutrition was most common amongst patients with malignancy.
Malnutrition is common in patients admitted to the medical wards of the Douala General Hospital. Nutritional screening and assessment should be integrated in the care package of all admitted patients.
营养不良在急性病患者中很常见，在30%-50%的住院患者中都会出现。撒哈拉以南非洲的大多数医疗机构都缺乏对营养不良的认知和筛查。本研究旨在使用人体测量和实验室指标对内科病房收治的患者进行营养不良筛查。
一项横断面研究。我们对2013年1月至3月内科病房连续收治的251例患者进行了营养不良筛查。营养不良定义为体重指数（BMI）低于18.5kg/m²，和/或女性上臂中部周长（MUAC）低于22cm，男性低于23cm。还记录了入院前最后6个月内体重减轻超过10%的情况、相关实验室数据、出院诊断和住院时间（LOS）。
平均年龄为47（标准差16）岁。52.6%为男性。平均BMI为24.44（标准差5.79）kg/m²，MUAC为27.8（标准差5.0）cm。中位住院时间为7（四分位间距5-12）天。42.4%的患者报告在住院前6个月内体重减轻超过10%。MUAC和BMI显著相关（r = 0.78；p < 0.0001），两种方法检测出的营养不良情况显示出中度一致性（κ = 0.56；p < 0.0001）。综合使用这两种方法，营养不良的患病率为19.34%（35/251）。营养不良患者的血白蛋白和血红蛋白显著较低。与无营养不良的患者相比，营养不良患者的住院时间显著更长（p = 0.019）。营养不良在恶性肿瘤患者中最为常见。
营养不良在杜阿拉总医院内科病房收治的患者中很常见。营养筛查和评估应纳入所有入院患者的护理方案中。
