Abstract

Background: Malnutrition affects disease status, increases the risk of infection, increases the length of hospital stay, increases the rate of re-admission to the ICU, and increases the risk of death. Therefore, nutritional screening, nutritional assessment, and adequate nutrition for patients in general and critically ill patients in intensive care units in particular are very important. Bowel dysfunction, increased energy expenditure, increased metabolism lead to an increased risk of malnutrition in patients. Assessing the nutritional status of patients in the intensive care units helps to assess the treatment progress, disease prognosis, and make a timely nutritional intervention plan to prevent the patient from becoming too malnourished. Objective: (1) Determining the malnourished status of patients in the ICU. (2) Investigate some factors related to malnutrition of patients in ICU. Method: a cross - sectional study. Results: 150 cases were selected. Gender: female/male: 62.7%/37.3%. Mean age: 57.2 ± 15.2. Co-morbidities: 3.3. Ventilated patients: 60.7%. Mortality rate: 67.1%. Underweight according to BMI: 20%. Patients with anemia: 60%. Patients with low albumin: 72%. Patients with malnutrition according to SGA: 63%, mild level: 42%, severe level: 21%. The rate of malnutrition of male patient is 57%, lower than one of women with 67%, p=0.7. The rate of malnutrition of over 60 year old patients was 71%, higher than one of under 60 year old patients with 45%, p=0.23. The rate of malnutrition of ventilated patients is 65%, higher than the non-ventilated group with 59%, p=0.17. Patients with multiple comorbidities have a higher rate of malnutrition than patients with only 1 comorbidities (72%/9%), p=0.03. Dead patients have a higher rate of malnutrition than living patients (65%/30%), p=0.045. Conclusion: The rate of patients with underweight according to BMI is 20%. The rate of malnutrition of patients according to SGA is 63%. Patients with multiple comorbidities have a higher rate of malnutrition than the group with 1 comorbidity (p=0.03). Patients who died had a higher rate of malnutrition than those who lived (p=0.045).