Economic Impact of Malnutrition: A Model System for Hospitalized Patients

A retrospective review of 771 patients' charts in two acute care hospitals was performed to determine likelihood of malnutrition (LOM) at admission and to assess the effect of LOM on costs and charges. Using accepted criteria, LOM was present in 59 and 48% of medical and surgical patients, respectively. Patients with LOM were 2.6 or 3.4 times as likely to have a predefined minor or major complication, respectively; and 3.8 times as likely to die as patients without LOM (all p less than 0.001). In every diagnosis-related group, the mean length of stay was longer for LOM patients (range 1.1-12.8 excess days). Accountants converted charges to direct variable costs using departmental cost-to-charge ratios. LOM status increased excess costs and charges per patient by $1738 and $3557, respectively (p less than 0.0001). When complications occurred, LOM patients incurred $2996 or $6157 excess costs and charges per patient (p less than 0.01). Serum albumin was the strongest clinical predictor of cost. The hospitals' cost of providing enteral or parenteral nutrition support was $18 or $102 per day, respectively. Too few patients received early nutrition support to assess efficacy. Nonetheless, the costs associated with malnutrition warrant early detection and aggressive treatment.