BACKGROUND

Malnutrition and low body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for mortality in hospitalized patients. Data substantiating this are unavailable for hospitalized general medical patients in our setting. We studied the prevalence of malnutrition among patients admitted to general medical wards in a tertiary care hospital and its role as a risk factor for 1-month mortality. We also investigated the association of BMI with mortality.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, nutrition assessment using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and anthropometric measurements was performed in 395 hospitalized general medical patients. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) score were calculated. Clinical course and vital status at 1 month after discharge was noted. Factors associated with mortality were identified using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 46.2 + 16.1 years; 247 (62.5%) were males. Of 395 patients, 129 (32.7%) belonged to SGA A, 155 (39.2%) to SGA B, and 111 (28.1%) to SGA C. Mean (±SD) BMI was 23.38 (±5.33); 141 (35.6%) were obese. Mortality was observed in 61 (15.4%) patients. Patients in the lowest BMI quartile had the lowest mortality. The adjusted regression analysis showed that higher age and MEWS scores were independently associated with mortality. Severe malnourishment (SGA C) was another important predictor. Further, the odds of death increased consistently across the consecutive BMI quartiles.

CONCLUSION

Higher age, higher MEWS scores, severe malnourishment, and higher BMI scores were independent risk factors for 1-month mortality in hospitalized general medical patients.