Introducing a mixed nutritional screening tool (CIPA) in a tertiary hospital

• Published in: Nutrición hospitalaria : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 1149 - 1153
• Main Authors: Suárez Llanos, José Pablo, Benitez Brito, Nestor, Oliva García, José Gregorio, Pereyra-García Castro, Francisca, López Frías, María Alicia, García Hernández, Alberto, Díaz Sirgo, Belarmina, Llorente Gómez de Segura, Ignacio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-05-2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Female; Humans; Male; Malnutrition - diagnosis; Middle Aged; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Tertiary Care Centers - organization & administration; Young Adult; Spain
• ISSN: 1699-5198
• DOI: 10.3305/nh.2014.29.5.7299

Malnourishment in hospitalized patients is very prevalent and therefore it is important to implement screening methods. A mixed nutritional screening method (CIPA) has been developed at our center; this method includes four parameters: (a) control of intakes for 72 h; (b) BMI; (c) proteins; and (d) albumin.
(1) To know the prevalence of malnourishment at the Internal Medicine Department of our Center; (2) To analyze the variables associated to higher prevalence of malnourishment.
The results of the nutritional screening tests carried out in 305 patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Department in the period of November of 2012-October of 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The prevalence of hospital malnourishment was analyzed, as well as the association of a positive screening test (at least one positive item) with the following variables: BMI, age, gender, underlying disease, hospital staying, early re-admittance (< 1 month) and hospital mortality.
The test yielded a positive result in 23% of the patients. Patients with a positive screening test had lower BMI (24.9 ± 7.2 vs. 27.8 ± 6.4 kg/m; p = 0.002). Neoplastic and infectious pathologies were associated with greater positivity (35.3 and 28.9%, respectively; p = 0.006). Gender and age were not associated with a positive screening test. Patients with a positive screening test had longer mean hospital staying (26.7 ± 25 vs. 19.4 ± 16.5; p = 0.005), higher early re-admittance rates (18.6 vs. 6.8%; p = 0.003) and higher mortality (30 vs. 10.3%; p < 0.001).
The CIPA screening test can detect malnourished patients and predict worse clinical prognosis (mortality, mean hospital staying and early readmittance).