Incidence Rate and Risk Factors of Malnutrition in Criticall Ill Patients

Background: A common condition that is commonly observed in severely ill individuals is malnutrition. It has been claimed that between 38% and 78% of patients in the intensive care unit are dangerously unwell. Higher rates of morbidity, mortality, and hospital-related costs are associated with these patients. Therefore, this study's objective was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition in Zagazig University Hospital's surgical intensive care unit. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in surgical intensive care unit in Zagazig university Hospital on 92 patients admitted to surgical intensive care unit and stayed more than 1 week in surgical intensive care in Zagazig university hospital. Risk factors were assessed in all cases. Results: 92 patients were investigated, 66 of them were nutritionally high risk and the remaining were nutritionally low risk. There is significant increase of nutrition risk in the critically ill score (NUTRIC score), incidence of comorbidities and length of stay in malnourished group. Age ≥ 60 years, comorbidities ≥ 2 and length of stay more than 10 days are considered risk factors of malnutrition. Conclusion: On ICU admission, about 71.8 % of the patients were nutritionally at high risk of malnutrition. Age more than 60 years, presence of more than two comorbidities and prolonged length of stay in ICU more than 10 days are considered risk factors to develop malnutrition in critically ill patients.