title: Malnutrition and poor food intake are associated with prolonged hospital stay, frequent readmissions, and greater in-hospital mortality: results from the Nutrition Care Day Survey 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Australasian Nutrition Care Day Survey (ANCDS) ascertained if malnutrition and poor food intake are independent risk factors for health-related outcomes in Australian and New Zealand hospital patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase 1 recorded nutritional status (Subjective Global Assessment) and 24-h food intake (0, 25, 50, 75, 100% intake). Outcomes data (Phase 2) were collected 90-days post-Phase 1 and included length of hospital stay (LOS), readmissions and in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3122 participants (47% females, 65 ± 18 years) from 56 hospitals, 32% were malnourished and 23% consumed ≤ 25% of the offered food. Malnourished patients had greater median LOS (15 days vs. 10 days, p < 0.0001) and readmissions rates (36% vs. 30%, p = 0.001). Median LOS for patients consuming ≤ 25% of the food was higher than those consuming ≤ 50% (13 vs. 11 days, p < 0.0001). The odds of 90-day in-hospital mortality were twice greater for malnourished patients (CI: 1.09-3.34, p = 0.023) and those consuming ≤ 25% of the offered food (CI: 1.13-3.51, p = 0.017), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ANCDS establishes that malnutrition and poor food intake are independently associated with in-hospital mortality in the Australian and New Zealand acute care setting.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Dietetic Research, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: e.agarwal@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Merrilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Marijka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batterham
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capra
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isenring
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010359:Patient Readmission; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index