Evaluation of Nutrition Risk Screening Score 2002 (NRS) assessment in hospitalized chronic kidney disease patient

BACKGROUND: Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are particularly prone to malnutrition, systematic nutritional screening is rarely routinely performed during hospitalization. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition (as captured by the nutritional screening score NRS) in hospitalized CKD patients and explore the impact of malnutrition on hospital mortality. METHODS: All patients admitted to the tertiary nephrology department of the University hospital of Bern Inselspital over a period of 12 months were included in this observational study. The risk for malnutrition was assessed within 24h of admission by the NRS. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were extracted from the patient database. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes were length of hospitalization and hospitalization costs. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model analysis was performed to determine the association of in-hospital mortality and risk of malnutrition (NRS score≥3). RESULTS: We included 696 eligible hospitalizations of 489 CKD patients. Hospitalized patients had a median age of 64 years (interquartile range (IQR), 52–72), 35.6% were at risk of malnutrition (NRS≥3). After adjustment for the identified confounders (Case weight, Barthel index, and CKD stage) multivariate analysis confirmed an independent and significant association between higher in-hospital mortality with NRS≥3 [OR 2.92 (95% CI: 1.33–6.39), P<0.001]. Furthermore, in multivariate analysis the risk of malnutrition was associated with longer length of hospitalization [Geometric mean ratio: 1.8 (95% CI: 1.5–2.0), p<0.001] and with increased hospitalization costs [Geometric mean ratio: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.5–1.9), p<0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition in CKD patients, as captured by NRS>3, is highly prevalent among hospitalized CKD patient and associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased in-hospital mortality.