Hospital Malnutrition, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Malnutrition in hospitalized patients, whose prevalence ranges between 40% and 60% in Latin America, is related to longer hospital stays, worse clinical outcomes, and increased hospitalization costs. The consequences related to hospital malnutrition have also been reported among patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In these individuals, an exacerbated inflammatory state is associated with malnutrition, loss of muscle mass, and cardiac cachexia, especially in the more advanced stages of the disease.

Globally, there is a policy that aims to recognize the importance of hospital malnutrition and its consequences. In Brazil, in 2018, the campaign “Say no to malnutrition” was published, composed of 11 steps to combat hospital malnutrition. In this campaign, the first step involves risk stratification and nutritional assessment for subsequent implementation and monitoring of appropriate nutritional therapy.

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