title: Hospital malnutrition in Latin America: A systematic review.
abstract: Disease-related malnutrition is a major public health issue in both industrialised and emerging countries. The reported prevalence in hospitalised adults ranges from 20% to 50%. Initial reports from emerging countries suggested a higher prevalence compared with other regions, with limited data on outcomes and costs.
  
  
  
  We performed a systematic literature search for articles on disease-related malnutrition in Latin American countries published between January 1995 and September 2014. Studies reporting data on the prevalence, clinical outcomes, or economic costs of malnutrition in an adult (≥18 years) inpatient population with a sample size of ≥30 subjects were eligible for inclusion. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed by two independent reviewers using published criteria.
  
  
  
  We identified 1467 citations; of these, 66 studies including 29 ,474 patients in 12 Latin American countries met the criteria for inclusion. There was considerable variability in methodology and in the reported prevalence of disease-related malnutrition; however, prevalence was consistently in the range of 40%-60% at the time of admission, with several studies reporting an increase in prevalence with increasing duration of hospitalisation. Disease-related malnutrition was associated with an increase in infectious and non-infectious clinical complications, length of hospital stay, and costs.
  
  
  
  Disease-related malnutrition is a highly prevalent condition that imposes a substantial health and economic burden on the countries of Latin America. Further research is necessary to characterise screening/assessment practices and identify evidence-based solutions to this persistent and costly public health issue.
authors: Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Medical School, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: isabel_correia@uol.com.br.
authors: Maria Isabel T D
authors: MITD
authors: Correia
authors: Critical Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Mario Ignacio
authors: MI
authors: Perman
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, LIM 35, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Dan Linetzky
authors: DL
authors: Waitzberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D000073296:Noncommunicable Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Assessment; Cost; Hospital; Malnutrition; Prevalence; Screening