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

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. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4451-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.