Nutritional status significantly affects hospital length of stay among surgical patients in public hospitals of Northern Ethiopia: single cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed to assess the effect of nutritional status on length of hospital stay in Northern Ethiopia. Result Institutional based prospective cohort study was conducted among 324 admitted surgical patients. Length of hospital stay were significantly associated with duration of disease (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) = 3.7,95% Confidence interval (CI):2.35–5.82), history of surgery (AHR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.40, 95% CI 1.17–1.86), nutritional status (Body Mass Index (AHR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.28–1.51), Mid Upper Arm Circumference (AHR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.62)) and individual diet diversity score (AHR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.14–6.14). Screening of patients for malnutrition at admission and provision of dietary supplements based on their nutritional status is recommended.

Keywords

• Nutritional status
• Length of hospital stay
• Duration
• Surgical patients
• Northern ethiopia