Walaa E. Alhassani
Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Volume: Special Issue | Pages: 47-53| April 2025| https://doi.org/10.54940/ms59097718 | PDF
Received:08/12/2024 |Accepted:23/01/2025
Corresponding Author: wehassani@uqu.edu.sa
Abstract
Background/ Purpose of the research: Malnutrition is a prevalent issue among hospitalized patients, contributing to adverse outcomes such as anemia, hypoalbuminemia, prolonged recov-ery times, and increased healthcare burdens. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of 200 hospitalized patients with chronic conditions in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to identify defi-ciencies and guide interven-tion strategies.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at three major hospitals, assessing body mass in-dex (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), and total protein (TP) levels five days post-admission. The study included patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, renal disease, liver disease, cardiovascu-lar disease, and those in post-surgical recovery. Nutritional and bio-chemical data were collected and analyzed to identify patterns and prevalence of deficiencies.
Results: Significant nutritional deficiencies were observed, particularly in patients with liver and renal diseases. Hemoglobin levels ranged from 10.33 to 11.22 g/dL, while albumin levels were between 2.77 and 3.42 g/dL, indicating widespread hypoalbuminemia. Despite normal total protein levels, deficiencies in albumin were common, with patients consuming low-residue diets exhibiting exac-erbated deficiencies in Hb and albumin. These findings highlight the critical role of dietary habits in influencing nutritional outcomes.
Conclusion: Targeted nutritional interventions, including iron supplementation and tailored dietary plans, are essential to address albumin deficiencies, particularly among elderly patients and those with chronic illnesses. Routine nutritional assessments and monitoring are crucial for early detection and improved patient outcomes. Future research should explore the broader impact of malnutrition and refine care strategies to mitigate its effectson hospitalized popula-tions.
Keywords
Malnutrition, Hemoglobin, Albumin, Nutritional status, Hospital-ized patients, Chron-ic diseases
How to Cite
Alhassani, W. (2025). sment of Nutritional Deficiencies Among Hospitalized Patients in Mak-kah: A Cross-sectional Analysis, Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Medical Sciences, Special Issue, 47-53.https://doi.org/10.54940/ms59097718
License
1658-4740/© 2025-by the Authors. Published by-J. Umm Al-Qura Univ. Med. Sci.-This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the-https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/-