title: Risk factors of malnutrition at hospital admission.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malnutrition is highly prevalent among hospitalized patients and is related to a greater risk of complications and mortality and more prolonged length of hospital stay. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition at hospital admission and associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional screening was performed in 189 patients within the first 24 hours of hospitalization using Subjective Global Assessment. Sex, age, recent prior hospitalization, and underlying diseases were evaluated as possible risk factors in a univariate (χ(2)) and multivariate (logistic regression) model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of malnutrition was 33.3%. Malnutrition was more frequent in males, patients with recent prior hospitalization, cancer or chronic diseases and was lower in patients with acute diseases, transplants, and surgery. There were no differences in age. Malnutrition was independently associated with male sex, cancer and chronic diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutritional assessment should be performed at least in patients with the risk factors described at hospital admission.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Juan Canalejo. A Coruña. España.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal Casariego
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Iglesias Fernández