Title: Prevalence of malnutrition in a tertiary care hospital in Metro-Manila

Authors: Ricardo Fernando, Luisito O. Llido, and Nutrition Management and Support Team

Institution where research was done: St. Luke's Medical Center, E. Rodriguez Ave, Quezon City, Metro-Manila, Philippines

Abstract

A point prevalence determination of malnutrition was done in a tertiary care hospital in Metro Manila, Philippines. It was a two (2) day nutritional assessment survey using the following parameters: height and weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Triceps Skin Fold, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference, Mid-Upper Arm Muscle Circumference, Creatinine Height Index, and Serum albumin. 256 patients were included in the study and these are the results: 1) the prevalence of malnutrition was 48% (122/256) and of these, 53% were underweight and 47% were overweight. The prevalence of underweight and overweight patients were 25.4% and 22.2% respectively. In the three (3) main age groups, there were more normal patients than malnourished (66.6% vs. 33.4%) in the pediatric age group (0-18 years), and of the malnourished patients, there were more overweight (66.6%) than underweight (33.4%). In the adult working age group (19-59 years), there were more malnourished than normal patients (52.8% vs. 47.2%) and of these, 53% were overweight and 47% were underweight. In the adult geriatric age group (60+ years), there were normal (53.5%) than malnourished patients (46.5%), but in the malnourished group, 67% were underweight compared to the 33% who were overweight. There were more female tha male patients and the main bulk of admissions were from the adult working group (47%) and from the adult-geriatric group (39%). The top six (6) units where most of the malnourished patients were admitted are the following: Institute of Neurosciences (77.8%), Geriatric Centre (75%), Pulmonary Care Unit (66.7%), Cancer Centre (63.6%), ICU/CCU (58.3%), and Surgical Unit (52.4%).