PD983 - EVOLUTION OF MALNUTRITION RISK IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OVER TIME

PD983

EVOLUTION OF MALNUTRITION RISK IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OVER TIME

S. Bauer^1,*, D. Eglseer¹, L. Lampersberger¹, S. Osmancevic¹

¹Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria

Rationale: Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients and is associated with adverse outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Evidence remains limited on its overall development in hospitals during recent years. Understanding aggregate changes in malnutrition risk prevalence and its interventions may help to identify gaps in nutritional care and inform targeted interventions. The aim of this study is to describe the evolution of malnutrition risk and associated interventions among hospitalized patients over time.  

Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed using hospital data collected 2017–2025 as part of the ‘National Prevalence Measurement of Care Quality’, an annual multicentre cross-sectional prevalence measurement performed in several settings in Austria. Malnutrition risk was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool.

Results: Data from 16,347 patients in Austrian hospitals were analysed. Slightly more than half were female (51.1%), with a mean age of 67 years. The overall prevalence of malnutrition risk was 23.8%, ranging from 26.5% in 2019 to 18.3% in 2025. The most commonly implemented nutritional interventions among patients at risk of malnutrition were nutritional screening, provision of patient-preferred foods, and referral to dietitians. While most interventions remained stable over time, referrals to dietitians, the use of energy- and protein-enriched diets, and oral nutritional supplements increased considerably.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that malnutrition continues to be a relevant concern throughout hospitalization, with a modest decline in prevalence over time. Despite some improvements in nutritional interventions, important gaps remain in monitoring and care. Enhancing routine nutritional screening may support the early identification of at-risk patients and enable timely, targeted interventions, thereby improving long-term patient outcomes.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared