title: Prevalence of hospital malnutrition in cancer patients: a sub-analysis of the PREDyCES® study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In oncology patients, hospital malnutrition is associated with a greater risk of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk and the clinical and economic consequences of hospital malnutrition in oncology patients hospitalised in Spanish centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study. The prevalence of nutritional risk was determined using the Nutrition Risk Screening(®)-2002 (NRS(®)-2002).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred one oncology patients were included; 33.9% (136/401) were at nutritional risk (NRS(®)-2002 ≥ 3) at admission and 36.4% (135/371) at discharge. On average, patients at nutritional risk were more elderly and had lower weights, body mass indices and arm and calf circumferences, as well as lower serum albumin levels than patients not at risk. Mean duration of hospitalisation and healthcare costs were greater in patients at nutritional risk at discharge (12.1 days; 95% confidence interval (CI) 10.83-13.39) than in well-nourished patients (8.6 days; 95% CI 7.86-9.40). Only a third of the patients at risk of malnutrition at discharge had received any kind of nutritional support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that hospital malnutrition is a prevalent and undertreated condition in oncology patients that is associated with longer hospital stays and increased healthcare costs.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Vic, Avenida Mare de Deu de Montserrat, número 10, 6 piso, puerta 3, 08024, Barcelona, Spain. mplanasvila@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Planas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: León-Sanz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celaya-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Medical Affairs, Nestlé HealthScience, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Krysmarú
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García de Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Hospital malnutrition; NRS®-2002; Oncology; PREDyCES; Spain