Malnutrition risk and associated risk factors in patients hospitalised in the internal medicine ward: a prospective observational study from a tertiary hospital in Türkiye

Background Malnutrition in hospitalised patients is common and increases morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Aim This study aimed to determine the risk of malnutrition at hospital admission and its associated risk factors among patients admitted to the internal medicine ward. Methods In this prospective observational study, 1052 patients hospitalised in the internal medicine ward of a tertiary care hospital were evaluated. Malnutrition risk was assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS‐2002), and demographic characteristics, history of hospitalisation, comorbidity burden, anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters (haemoglobin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), albumin, urea, creatinine, uric acid) were recorded. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of malnutrition risk. Results Of all participants, 61.4% were at high risk of malnutrition. In‐hospital mortality rate (5.3%), comorbidity burden (5.70 ± 3.70) and length of hospital stay (11.0 (13.0)) were higher in the high malnutrition risk group ( P < 0.05). Age, duration of hospitalisation, body mass index (BMI), CRP and albumin levels were significantly associated with malnutrition risk ( P < 0.05). In binary logistic regression analysis, older age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.019; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.006–1.032), low BMI (OR = 0.969; 95% CI: 0.948–0.990), high CRP (OR = 0.997; 95% CI: 0.995–0.999) and low albumin (OR = 0.911; 95% CI: 0.882–0.942) were independent predictors of high risk of malnutrition after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusion Advanced age, prolonged hospitalisation, inflammation and hypoalbuminemia are associated with an increased risk of malnutrition. Routine screening using the NRS‐2002 is likely to be more effective than subjective clinical assessment in identifying patients at risk of malnutrition and guiding appropriate nutritional interventions.