PD563 - HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND MALNUTRITION RISK: A HIDDEN GAP IN ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION

PD563

HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND MALNUTRITION RISK: A HIDDEN GAP IN ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION

M. C. Gonzalez¹, S. F. D. O. Dominski ², A. C. D. P. Peliki ³, A. C. O. Costa ², J. A. Santos⁴, L. S. F. Pimentel ², O. L. Tostes ⁵, L. F. Nogueira², L. O. Pinheiro ⁶, B. B. Basbosa ², T. Ditrichio ⁷, K. E. Santana ², L. Pimentel ⁸, R. S. Oliveira-Filho², S. P. Orlandi¹, V. Rosenfeld^2,2,*

¹Universidade Federal de Pelotas,, Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição e Alimentos, Pelotas, ²Medical Affairs, Nestlé, São Paulo, ³Nutrition, Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças, Curitiba, ⁴Nutrition, Unimed, Aracaju, ⁵Nutrition, Hospital São Paulo, Muriaé, ⁶Nutrition, Hemolabor, Goiânia, ⁷Nutrition, Hospital Santa Clara, ⁸Nutrition, Hospital Santa Ana, São Paulo, Brazil

Rationale: The recognition and treatment of patients with obesity remains challenging. We aimed to determine whether the use of ONS in patients at risk of malnutrition or malnourished varies by body mass index(BMI).

Methods: In a multicentric, retrospective, observational study, the nutritional risk and malnutrition were assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). BMI categories were defined as <18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25.0–29.9, and ≥30 kg/m². Weight loss and ONS prescription were analyzed across BMI categories. The primary analysis evaluated ONS use among patients classified as at nutritional risk or malnourished.

Results: A sample of 679 hospitalized patients (mean age 73.4±10.0 years) was analyzed.  Overweight and obesity were present in 12.8% and 16.5% of the sample, respectively. Weight loss was reported in 40% of patients, including approximately one-third of those with overweight and 27% with obesity. Nutrition risk or malnutrition was present in 438 patients (64.5%). Notably, 55.2% of overweight and 43.8% of obese patients were classified as at risk or malnourished. Among patients identified as at nutritional risk or malnourished, ONS use differed significantly across BMI categories (p<0.001). While 69% of underweight and 57% of normal-weight patients received ONS, only 41% of overweight and 38% of obese patients were treated. Consequently, more than 60% of obese patients at risk or malnourished did not receive ONS.

Conclusion: A substantial proportion of hospitalized patients with overweight and obesity present with malnutrition risk. However, these patients are significantly less likely to receive ONS, even when nutritional risk is identified. These findings suggest that obesity may mask the need for nutritional interventions, leading to missed therapeutic opportunities. Strategies to improve recognition and treatment of malnutrition across all BMI categories are urgently needed.

Disclosure of Interest: M. C. Gonzalez Consultant for: Nestlé, Speakers Bureau of: Abbott and Nutricia, S. Dominski : None declared, A. Peliki : None declared, A. C. Costa : None declared, J. Santos: None declared, L. Pimentel : None declared, O. Tostes : None declared, L. Nogueira: None declared, L. Pinheiro : None declared, B. Basbosa : None declared, T. Ditrichio : None declared, K. Santana : None declared, L. Pimentel : None declared, R. Oliveira-Filho Other: Full-time employer of Nestlé., S. Orlandi: None declared, V. Rosenfeld Other: Full-time employer of Nestlé.