Predictors Of Malnutrition Among Hospitalized Adults With Pneumonia At The 37 Military Hospital In Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: The aging population is the world’s most pressing medical and socio demographic challenge, and addressing this issue is a key concern. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana, undernutrition among older people is high. There is limited information on the malnutrition situation among the hospitalized older adults in Ghana. This study was undertaken to identify malnutrition cases and the determinants of malnutrition among hospitalized adults with pneumonia at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 54 hospitalized adults aged 60 and above infected with pneumonia at the 37 Military Hospital. Data were collected on socio- demographics, health status, lifestyle factors, and dietary intakes (a 24-hour dietary recall). Anthropometric data and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool (MNA) were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among the study group. Chi-square and regression analysis were used to determine the association between malnutrition and comorbidity among hospitalized adults with pneumonia. Results: This study revealed that 85.2% of the study population were malnourished based on their Body Mass Index (BMI). Based on MNA scores, 50.0% and 40% of the participants were at risk of malnutrition and malnourished respectively. There was no significant association between dietary diversity, nutrient intake, and malnutrition using BMI and MNA-Score (P > 0.05), respectively. Predictors such as marital status, feeding mode, morbidity, and taking more than 3 prescriptions per day were independently associated with malnutrition with a (P > 0.05). The prevalence of comorbidity among the study population was (61.1%) as participants with comorbidity had higher odds for malnutrition than those who are morbid (OR =2.58: CI=0.394 16.94). Study participants with health conditions such as neuropsychological problems had 4 times higher odds (OR 4.52:CI= 0.004-2.177) for malnutrition than those who had no neuropsychological problems. Lastly, the prevalence of anaemia among hospitalized a with pneumonia was 40.7%. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition in adult with pneumonia was high using both the MNA and the body mass index. Almost all participants had inadequacies for calcium and fibre intake while there was no association between dietary and malnutrition however carbohydrate was the only nutrient that was associated with MNA. Predictors such as marital status, taking more than 3 prescriptions per day, feeding mode, living independently, and mobility were associated with malnutrition.