Prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition: a case among hospitalized adult patients in a tertiary hospital, Eastern Uganda

Malnutrition among adult inpatients is often overlooked, underdiagnosed, and consequently undertreated. The global prevalence of malnutrition among adults is reported to vary between 15 % and 76 %. Malnutrition is associated with increased; “healthcare expenditure, morbidity and mortality, and poor quality of life”. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among adult inpatients at Mbale regional referral hospital in Eastern Uganda. This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. Data were collected from adult inpatients admitted to the medical ward for at least 48 h, aged ≥18 years and ≤65 years. The nutrition status was assessed using “Body Mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and subjective global assessment (SGA)”. Those variables in the bivariate analysis with p-value <0.25 were considered candidates for inclusion in the univariate logistic regression. The level of significance was set at 95 %. A total of 140 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 47 ± 12.94 years. The prevalence of malnutrition was 37 % (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ), 67.9 % (MUAC ≤ 19 cm), and 61.4 % (SGA). The factors associated with malnutrition were, being HIV positive (AOR = 9.87, CI: 1.43–67.71, p = 0.004); low-income status (COR = 2.03 CI: 1.35–3.04, (p = 0.001); and age >40 (COR = 2.08, 95 % CI: 1.39–3.14, p = 0.000). The prevalence of malnutrition amongst adult inpatients was found to be high. HIV status, low-income status, and age above 40 years were significantly associated with malnutrition. A holistic approach is needed to mitigate malnutrition among adult inpatients.