Prevalence of malnutrition in traffic injured orthopedic trauma patients in Kashani Hospital, Isfahan

Rastegar, Shirvan; Teimouri, Mehdi; Lalehzar, Sahar Sadat; Babamir, Afsaneh; Hatami, Aria

doi:10.22034/ijos.2024.433679.1081

Prevalence of malnutrition in traffic injured orthopedic trauma patients in Kashani Hospital, Isfahan

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Shirvan Rastegar ¹

Mehdi Teimouri ²

Sahar sadat Lalehzar ³

Afsaneh Babamir ³

Aria Hatami ³

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kashani University Hospital, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;

² Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;

³ Medical doctor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kashani University Hospital, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijos.2024.433679.1081

Abstract

Introduction
Malnutrition is an underestimated problem in the general hospitalized population. Although most physicians are aware of the risk of malnutrition, half of malnourished patients are not identified during their hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in traffic injured trauma patients referred to Kashani Hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods
Sixty patients were selected by simple random sampling from injured trauma patients. Required variables such as age, sex, height, weight, albumin, lymphocytes were extracted and recorded by asking the patient or the patient's file. In addition, malnutrition of patients was assessed using SGA (Subjective global assessment - Diagnosing Malnutrition) questionnaire.
Results
About 28% of traumatic patients admitted to Kashani Hospital were assessed as having proper nutritional status. However, about 72% of patients with mild to severe malnutrition were classified. Also, the nutritional status of patients was not significantly different between men and women (P-value = 0.838).
Discussion
In this study, 26.7% of patients (95% CI: 15.0-38.3) had mild to moderate malnutrition and 45% of patients (95% CI: 31.7-56.7) had severe malnutrition. Serum albumin was statistically significantly associated with malnutrition (P-value, 0.004).
Conclusion
To improve treatment outcomes and reduce hospitalization costs, nutritional screening and identification of patients in need of nutritional therapy, especially in patients with severe trauma, is emphasized.

Keywords

Malnutrition

Trauma

orthopedics

Subjects