Economic Impact of Malnutrition: A Model System for Hospitalized Patients

Abstract
A retrospective review of 771 patients' charts in two acute care hospitals was performed to determine likelihood of malnutrition (LOM) at admission and to assess the effect of LOM on costs and charges. Using accepted criteria, LOM was present in 59 and 48% of medical and surgical patients, respectively. Patients with LOM were 2.6 or 3.4 times as likely to have a predefined minor or major complication, respectively; and 3.8 times as likely to die as patients without LOM (all p < 0.001). In every diagnosis-related group, the mean length of stay was longer for LOM patients (range 1.1–12.8 excess days).