Maryam Golzar - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Alinezhad-Namaghi - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Rashi Mayvan - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Kazem Eslami - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Introduction: Malnutrition is a widely spread problem in hospitals associated with illness or aging. This study aimed to describe prevalence of malnutrition in different units of Imam Reza teaching hospital (except ICUs).Methods: This is a cross sectional study that was conducted in different units of Imam Reza teaching hospital on Nov 7th, 2019, using standardized questionnaires. Malnutrition was objectively defined as BMI <20 (kg/m2) or unintentional weight loss > 5% in the past three months.Results: 378 inpatients (184 M: 194 F; mean age of 48.9±15.8 years) evaluated in this audit. This study showed that 7.1% of all patients were malnourished and 15.6% were at risk of malnutrition. The highest percentage of malnutrition were in post Angiography (n=3, 37.5%) and pulmonology units (n=4, 30.8%). patients in Nephrology (n=7, 53.8%), Male Burning (n=4, 44.4%) and Oncology (n=4, 44.4%) units, had the highest percentage of malnutrition at risk.31.7% of all patients had unintentionally weight loss within the last 3 months that the highest percentages were in Gastroenterology-hepatology (n=13, 76.5%, on average 10 kg weight loss) and Pulmonology units (n=8, 61.5%, on average 7 kg weight loss).Conclusions: The overall prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in the hospital was 7.1% and 15.6% respectively. This was the first study to obtain data from all hospitalized patients ‘nutritional status in Imam Reza hospital during an audit and the valuable results could supply evidence for clinical nutrition support.

Malnutrition, Weight loss, Hospital