Asociación entre el riesgo nutricional y la estancia hospitalaria en paciente pediátrico

Abstract

Background: To identify the existing correlations between the nutritional risk score based on STRONGkids screening and the medical diagnosis at admission and Hospital stay. Methods: retrospective analytical study, performed with 1231 nutritional screening records done to pediatric patients hospitalized in an institution of medium complexity and their correlations based on the revision of database with information related to the medical diagnosis at the time of admission and hospital stay measured on days. Results were statistically analyzed by means of the Chi Square test for Independence. The intensity of the association was then measured through the calculation of the contingency coefficient and Cramer’s v coefficient. Finally, the description of the correlations was done through the correspondence analysis tool. Results: The data obtained through the analysis show a moderate correlation between the nutritional risk variables, hospital stay, and medical diagnosis at admission; demonstrating that the highest nutritional risk scores are related with longer hospital stays. Conclusions: The existing correlation between a higher nutritional risk score and a prolonged hospital stay, supports the need for implementation of tools that help to early identify patients in need of a timely nutritional intervention thus lowering patient complications and healthcare costs