Association of Malnutrition with Quality of Life, Mortality and Readmission Post Hospitalization in Patients with Non-Communicable Disease

Abstract

Non-communicable disease (NCD) can cause mortality, morbidity and hospital readmission. Hospitalization can affect a patient’s nutritional status and impact a patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between a patient’s discharged nutritional status with mortality, readmission and quality of life post hospitalization in patients with NCD. This study was an observational study with a retrospective cohort design. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling. Subjects were discharged patients with NCD aged 18 years or older, Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and subjective global assessment (SGA) were recorded. Discharged nutritional status 3 to 6 months from hospital was assessed using %MUAC and SGA. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. The results showed a significant relationship between a patient’s discharged nutritional status assessed by SGA and 3 to 6 months post hospitalization mortality (p = 0.047; OR = 4.92), as well as patient’s discharged nutritional status assessed by % MUAC and quality of life post hospitalization with non-communicable disease (p = 0.003; OR = 3.76). The malnourished subjects had an average quality of life sub-scale score lower than well-nourished, except for the mental health sub-scale (malnourished = 79.80±8.98; well-nourished = 78.78±10.63). There was no significant relationship between nutritional status and patient readmission (p = 0.427). It was concluded that a patient’s discharged nutritional status was related to mortality and quality of life post hospitalization in patients with NCD. There was no correlation between nutritional status and patient readmission. However, patients with malnourished nutritional status have a higher tendency for readmission.