A comprehensive nutritional survey of hospitalized patients: Results from nutritionDay 2016 in China

Aims Prevalence of malnutrition is a common and serious issue responsible for the morbidity and mortality rate among hospitalized patients. We aimed to provide an actual and comprehensive situation of the nutritional characteristics, nutritional support and the risk factors for malnutrition among hospitalized patients in China. Methods We analyzed the data from nutritionDay audit 2016 in China. The international daylong cross-sectional survey was performed on November 10^th, 2016 via filling out several questionnaires regarding information on patients’ illness, food intake history, weight change and nutritional care. Re-assessment of patients’ outcome questionnaire was performed 30 days later. Results Total of 781 patients from 9 hospitals and 8 kinds of departments were enrolled in this report. Of these, malnutrition rate was 29.6%. Parenteral nutrition (251/344, 73.0%) was the primary nutrition support form in Chinese hospitals. However, 41.8% (136/325) of patients at nutritional risk or already diagnosed with malnutrition did not received any form of nutritional support, whereas 34.0% (155/456) well-nourished patients did. Patients with malnutrition had extended length of hospital stay and poor 30-day outcomes compared to well-nourished patients. Nutritional support could benefit nutritional risk or malnutrition patients, rather than well-nourished patients. Moreover, major lesion types, self-related health, food intake last week were independent risk factors of malnutrition (all p<0.05). Conclusions Chinese hospital staff is generally lack of knowledge and awareness of malnutrition. Self-related health, major lesion types and food intake are associated with malnutrition.