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Epidemiology

Large regional disparities in prevalence, management and reimbursement of hospital undernutrition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 121–131 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Undernutrition is a frequent condition among hospitalized patients, with a significant impact on patient’s outcome and hospital costs. Whether undernutrition is reported similarly at the national level has seldom been assessed. We aimed to (1) assess regional differences within Switzerland regarding undernutrition prevalence, management, and cost reimbursement and (2) identify the factors associated with reporting of undernutrition status and its management.

Subjects/Methods

Observational cross-sectional study including routine statistics from the Swiss hospital discharge databases for years 2013 and 2014 (seven administrative regions). All adults aged ≥20 with length of hospital stay of at least 1 day was included. Reported undernutrition was defined based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes. Nutritional management and “reimbursable” undernutrition codes were also assessed.

Results

Of the initial 1,784,855 hospitalizations, 3.6% had reported undernutrition, the prevalence ranging between 1.8% (Ticino) and 4.6% (Mittelland). Use of different undernutrition-related ICD-10 codes also varied considerably across regions. Multivariable analysis showed a twofold variation in reported undernutrition: multivariable-adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval relative to Eastern Switzerland: 2.31 (2.23, 2.38) for Mittelland and 0.74 (0.70, 0.79) for Ticino. Over half (59.6%) of hospitalizations with reported undernutrition also included information on undernutrition management, ranging between 28.6% (Ticino) and 67.2% (Zürich). Only one third (36.8%) of undernutrition-related codes were reimbursable, ranging between 8.3% (Ticino) and 50.7% (Zürich).

Conclusions

In Switzerland, there is considerable regional variation regarding reporting of undernutrition prevalence, management, and cost reimbursement. Undernutrition appears to be insufficiently managed and valued.

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Author contributions

S.K.-S and P.M.-V. conceived the paper. S.K.-S. analyzed data and wrote the manuscript. P.M.-V. supervised the analysis, and had primary responsibility for final content. G.W. and C.d.M. reviewed the manuscript and provided critical recommendations. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

Saman Khalatbari-Soltani is supported by a Swiss Excellence Government scholarship awarded by Swiss Confederation [Ref No. 2014.0739]. Carlos de Mestral is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation [PNR69 Ref No. 406940_145187]. The funding source had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the report, or decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopole 2, Route de la Corniche 10, CH-1010, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Saman Khalatbari-Soltani & Carlos de Mestral

  2. Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Saman Khalatbari-Soltani, Gérard Waeber & Pedro Marques-Vidal

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  1. Saman Khalatbari-Soltani
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Correspondence to Saman Khalatbari-Soltani.

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Khalatbari-Soltani, S., de Mestral, C., Waeber, G. et al. Large regional disparities in prevalence, management and reimbursement of hospital undernutrition. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 121–131 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0149-3

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