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Background: Malnutrition among inpatients is highly prevalent, and has a negative impact on their clinical outcome. The Working Group for the Study of Malnutrition in Hospitals in Catalonia was created to generate consensus guidelines for the prevention and/or treatment of malnutrition in hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. Aims: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to hospital in Catalonia and to assess relationships between malnutrition, social and demographic data, overall costs, and mortality. Methods: Prospective and multicenter study conducted with 796 patients from 11 hospitals representative of the hospitalized population in Catalonia. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 method. Results: Overall, 28.9% of the patients are malnourished or at nutritional risk. Elderly patients, non-manual workers, those admitted to hospital as emergencies and with higher co-morbidities had higher risk of malnutrition. The type of hospital (second level vs. tertiary or University referral) to which they were admitted was also a factor predisposing to malnutrition. Length of hospital stay was longer in malnourished patients (10.5 vs. 7.7 days, p < 0.0001). The need for a convalescent home on leaving hospital was higher as well as the risk of mortality (8.6% malnourished vs. 1.3% nonmalnourished, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients on admission to hospital in our community, resulting in elevated overall costs and higher risk of mortality. Age, social class and characteristics of the Unit and the Hospital are the main factors involved in hospital malnutrition. Introducción: La desnutrición en los pacientes ingresados en el hospital es altamente prevalente, e impacta negativamente en su evolución clínica. El Grupo de Trabajo para el Estudio de la Desnutrición Hospitalaria en Cataluña se creó para general Guías de consenso para prevenir y/o tratar la desnutrición en los hospitales de Cataluña, España. Objetivos: Los objetivos del estudio fueron determinar la prevalencia de desnutrición al ingreso en los hospitales de Cataluña, y evaluar la relación entre desnutrición, datos sociales y demográficos, coste relacionado con la enfermedad y mortalidad. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo y multicéntrico realizado en 796 pacientes ingresados en 11 hospitales representativos de la población hospitalizada en Cataluña. El estado nutricional se evaluó utilizando la herramienta Nutritional Risk Screening 2002. Resultados: De forma global, 28,9% de los pacientes estaban desnutridos en el momento del ingreso. Los pacientes más ancianos, trabajadores no manuales, ingresados en el hospital procedentes de Urgencias y con más comorbilidades son los que presentaron mayor prevalencia de desnutrición. El tipo de hospital (Segundo nivel versus Tercer Nivel) también fue un factor predisponerte a la desnutrición. La estancia hospitalaria fue mayor en los pacientes desnutridos (10,5 vs 7,7 días, p < 0,0001). La necesidad de centro de convalecencia al alta hospitalaria fue mayor en los pacientes desnutridos, así como la mortalidad (8,6% desnutridos vs 1,3% normonutridos, p < 0,0001). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de desnutrición es elevada en los pacientes ingresados en el hospital en nuestra comunidad, lo que resulta en mayores costes sanitarios y mayor mortalidad. La edad, clase social y características del Servicio y del Hospital son los principales factores involucrados en la presencia de desnutrición hospitalaria.

Background: Malnutrition among inpatients is highly prevalent, and has a negative impact on their clinical outcome. The Working Group for the Study of Malnutrition in Hospitals in Catalonia was created to generate consensus guidelines for the prevention and/or treatment of malnutrition in hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. Aims: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to hospital in Catalonia and to assess relationships between malnutrition, social and demographic data, overall costs, and mortality. Methods: Prospective and multicenter study conducted with 796 patients from 11 hospitals representative of the hospitalized population in Catalonia. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 method. Results: Overall, 28.9% of the patients are malnourished or at nutritional risk. Elderly patients, non-manual workers, those admitted to hospital as emergencies and with higher co-morbidities had higher risk of malnutrition. The type of hospital (second level vs. tertiary or University referral) to which they were admitted was also a factor predisposing to malnutrition. Length of hospital stay was longer in malnourished patients (10.5 vs. 7.7 days, p < 0.0001). The need for a convalescent home on leaving hospital was higher as well as the risk of mortality (8.6% malnourished vs. 1.3% nonmalnourished, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients on admission to hospital in our community, resulting in elevated overall costs and higher risk of mortality. Age, social class and characteristics of the Unit and the Hospital are the main factors involved in hospital malnutrition.