Hospital malnutrition and stroke: a study of nutritional risk and patient outcomes.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Hospital malnutrition is a prevalent issue among stroke patients, with significant impacts on immune function and clinical outcomes. Malnutrition is associated with poor outcomes such as increased complications, prolonged recovery, and higher mortality. This study aims to assess the prevalence of malnutrition using the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) and its association with clinical outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), inflammatory markers, and mortality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 230 stroke patients who were admitted between January 2022 and January 2024. Nutritional status was assessed using the MST, with key outcomes including LOS, Total Lymphocyte Count (TLC), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), serum albumin, Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and mortality. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: The study found that 26.5% of patients had an MST score of 2 or higher, indicating a high risk of malnutrition. Patients with high MST scores had significantly lower TLC (p = 0.017), indicating a weakened immune response. No significant differences were observed in LOS (p = 0.63), mortality (p = 0.404), or other inflammatory markers such as NLR, albumin, and PNI between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Conclusion: Malnutrition is common among stroke patients and is associated with impaired immune function, as evidenced by lower TLC in malnourished patients. Although no significant differences were observed in LOS or mortality, the findings underscore the importance of routine nutritional screening and timely intervention to improve patient outcomes.
DOI: 10.12873/451khairil
Authors: Khairi ANWAR, Nurpudji A. TASLIM, A Yasmin SYAUKI, Abdul MUIS, Nurainun RANI, Agussalim BUKHARI
Institution: Hasanuddin University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4407095422