Newsletter

[ Vol. 6 No. 2 ] (May - August 2005 )
Consecutive determination of nutritional status using subjective global assessment, A predictor of hospital stay and hospital charge

Chindavijak B, Ritsri W, Montakantikul P, Komindr S.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Subjective global assessment (SGA) was employed to determine the nutritional status of medical inpatients admitted at Ramathibodi Hospital. Patients from four medical wards, were assessed for their nutritional status from admission until discharge. The prevalence of malnutrition, complication occurred during hospitalization length of hospital stay (LOS), and hospital were determined. The duration of the study was 4 month and 145 patients were recruited. On admission, 58 patients (40%) were malnourished. During hospitalization, ranged from 2-49 days, 23 patients (15.9%) experienced a decline in nutritional status while 101 patients (69.7%) did not. Twenty-five patients (17.2%) suffered from a lower nutritional status at discharge, regardless of their nutritional status at admission. Higher incidence of complication were found in the group of declining nutritional status during hospitalization than in the group of nondeclining (56.0% vs 23.3%, p = 0.002). Accordingly, LOS was significantly longer (16.8 days vs. 8.1 days, average value, p = 0.000) and hospital charge was significantly higher (68,076.04 Baht vs. 31,042.06 Baht, average value, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The study confirmed that declining nutritional status resulted in increased hospital stay and expense. Therefore, the malnourished patients must be closely monitored and nutritionally supported. Consecutive determination by SGA appears to be a useful tool in identifying patients at risk of malnutrition during hospitalization and should routinely be performed.

From 
“The Future of Nutrition Support and Cooperation Among the Asian Regions”
The 10^th PENSA Congress, Dusit Resort Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand. 
October 27-29, 2004: Page 185