MALNUTRITION POINT-PREVALENCE FROM 2012 TO 2019 AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH-OUTCOMES IN ADULT PATIENTS IN RURAL HOSPITALS

Background: Malnutrition negatively impacts hospitalised patients and the healthcare system. Objectives: 1) report point-prevalence of hospital malnutrition from 2012 to 2019; and 2) determine if there was an association between nutrition status and health-related outcomes. Design: Point-prevalence of malnutrition was determined by three (2012, 2014, and 2019) cross-sectional studies. Health-related outcomes, assessed by a prospective cohort study in 2014, were length of stay, in-hospital mortality, hospital readmission, infection, falls, fractures, and pressure wounds. Setting: three Australian rural hospitals. Participants: Adult inpatients. Measurements: Nutrition status was assessed with the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool. Results: Malnutrition point prevalence was 39% in 2012 (n=62), 48% in 2014 (n=128), and 28% in 2019 (n=96); where the prevalence in 2019 was significantly lower than in 2014 (p<0.017). The 2019 (median age 70 years) sample was younger than the 2012 (median age 80 years) and 2014 (median age 78 years) samples (p<0.05). Mortality and falls rate were higher in the severely malnourished participants (p=<0.05); and severe malnutrition may predict mortality (Adjusted OR: 3.47 (95%CI: 0.94, 12.78] p=0.061). Conclusions: Nutrition status did not predict other health-related outcomes. The rate of malnutrition in rural hospitals was consistently high and may increase the risk of in-hospital mortality.