Malnutrition, Nutrition Structures and Processes in German Hospitals on nutritionDay - A Comparison of Medical Specialties

Background Medical disciplines are affected by malnutrition to varying degrees. The nutritionDay project provides data for an interdisciplinary comparison regarding the prevalence of malnutrition, as well as an overview of the status quo of nutrition-related structures and processes in German hospitals.Methods This evaluation included 1,865 patients from 127 hospital wards who participated in nutritionDay in Germany between 2016 and August 2020. Nutritional status (body mass index, weight loss, appraisal by ward staff), nutrition-related structures and processes are presented in a descriptive comparative manner for 7 medical specialties.Results 5.5% and 16.7% of the participating patients were underweight (according to WHO and ESPEN, respectively). Underweight was most common in geriatrics (7.6% and 24.0%, respectively) and least common in neurology (3.3% and 12.0%, respectively). Unintentional weight loss prevalence was 40.1% in oncology but only 19.4% in neurology. According to unit staff, especially geriatric patients were malnourished (26.3%). 63.8% of all wards reported having an overall strategy for nutritional care (range of disciplines 26.7-89.5%), and 47.2% (35.3-61.9%) had a contact person for clinical nutrition issues. 88.3% (66.7-100%) of wards perform malnutrition screening and 57.5% (44.4-84.2%) reported routine weighing on admission.Discussion Malnutrition is variably prevalent among hospital patients in Germany, depending on the criterion and with an interdisciplinary variance. The existence and implementation of nutrition-related structures and processes also vary and need improvement. Comprehensive data from German hospitals are urgently needed as a basis for political decision-making.