Abstract
Malnutrition has been shown to impede healing and recovery, thereby contributing to increased lengths of stay (LOS), and escalating hospitalization costs. To quantify the dollar effect of poor nutrition, nutritional status upon admission of 123 patients in a 475-bed acute-care Houston hospital was compared with LOS and mean daily charges (MDC) A nutritional risk score (NRS) was determined, based on albumin, total lymphocyte count, and percent of ideal body weight. Seventy-seven subjects (62.6%) were assessed as “well-nourished” (WN) having a NRS of 0, while forty-six subjects (37.4%) were termed “at risk” (AR) with NRSs ranging from 1–4. Significant correlations were found between degree of nutritional risk and both LOS (r = 0.1551, p<0.05), and MDC (r = –.2178, p<0.05). Though the correlation between nutritional risk and LOS was positive, MDCs declined as nutritional risk rose. Review of data showed high charges for short-term stays. This may reflect expensive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures for acute conditions. Well-nourished individuals may be likely to tolerate and recover from these without extended hospitalization. Further research is needed to clarify factors which contribute to the escalating hospitalization charges.
Published Version
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