Risk Factors for Undernutrition at Admission Among Adult Hospitalized Patients at a Referral Hospital in Indonesia

Patients with undernutrition at admission have higher risks to worsen their nutritional status, which is linked to an increase in morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the prevalence of undernutrition at admission and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged 18 to 59 years old in Internal Medicine ward at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, between July and September 2019. Factors that might be associated with undernutrition at admission, such as age, sex, marital status, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and type of comorbidity, depression, and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were assessed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the associated factors. Sixty hospitalized patients with median age of 42 years and 76.7% with married status joined the study. The most common reason for hospitalization was acute gastrointestinal disease with gallstones as the most common comorbidity. Undernutrition exists in 26.7% of subjects. High CCI score was observed among 11.7% subjects and half of subjects had NLR category ≥5. Bivariate analysis revealed that unmarried status, age ≥40 years, and malignancy were associated with undernutrition at admission. Logistic regression analysis showed malignancy as an independent predictor of undernutrition during the initial hospital admission (odds ratio [OR] = 11.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.1, 125.7]). The prevalence of undernutrition at admission was 26.7%. Factors associated with an increased prevalence of undernutrition at admission were age <40 years, unmarried status, and malignancy. Malignancy was an independent factor of the prevalence of undernutrition at admission.