Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Background: Malnutrition among hospitalized adults with cerebral palsy (CP) has not been extensively explored. We sought to identify impacts of malnutrition on clinical and resource outcomes among hospitalized adults with CP. Methods: This retrospective cohort study surveyed years 2016 and 2017 from the National Inpatient Sample database. Regression models evaluated mortality and resource utilization. Results: 154,219 adults with CP were hospitalized. Among them, 21,064/154,219 (13.5%) had malnutrition. Patients with and without malnutrition were similar in age (mean age ± SEM, 45.1 ± 0.30 vs 45.2 ± 0.18 years; P =.70). Patients with malnutrition were more likely male (12,175/21,604 [57.8%] vs 72,929/133,155 [54.8%], P <.01) and had higher comorbidity scores (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3; 2,464/21,064 [11.7%] vs 14,380/133,155 [10.8%]; P =.01). Mortality rates were higher among patients with malnutrition (905/21,064 [4.3%] vs 2,796/21,064 [2.1%], P <.01), and they had higher odds for mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.1; CI, 1.7–2.5; P <.01). Those with malnutrition were less likely discharged home (aOR = 0.52; CI, 0.48–0.56; P <.01). Hospital charges were higher (adjusted mean difference [aMD] = +$42,540; CI, $36,934–48,146; P <.01) and length of stay longer (aMD = +4.3 days; CI, 3.9–4.7; P <.01) among patients with malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition in hospitalized patients with CP is associated with increased mortality and hospital resource utilization. Flagging these patients as being ”high risk” when they are hospitalized may result in heightened attentiveness about clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population.