About this trial
Malnutrition among hospitalized patients is a critical, yet often overlooked, public health issue associated with increased complications, longer hospital stays, higher mortality, and greater healthcare costs. In Iraq, factors such as dietary patterns, the burden of chronic diseases, and healthcare constraints may increase the risk of hospital-acquired malnutrition. Current standard care may not include systematic nutritional screening or protocol-driven support. This trial aims to test whether implementing an individualized nutritional support program can improve clinical outcomes for at-risk medical inpatients in Iraqi hospitals, building upon evidence from international studies
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Age: Adult patients aged $\ge$ 18 years.Setting: Patients admitted to the Medicine, Surgery, or Neurology Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards at Al-Basrah Teaching Hospital or Al-Fayhaa General Hospital.Duration of Stay: Patients who have been hospitalized for a minimum of 48 hours (to ensure a baseline for malnutrition screening and medication review).Clinical Conditions: Patients with various primary diagnoses, including specific subgroups with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Alzheimer's Disease.Informed Consent: Patients or their legal guardians (especially for those in the ICU or with cognitive impairment) who provide written or verbal informed consent.
Disqualifiers
Maternity/Obstetrics: Pregnant or lactating women, as nutritional requirements and physiological BMI changes differ from the general adult population.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Nutritional Assessment and Medication Review
- Nutritional Assessment and Medication Review
Treatment groups
Locations
Sponsors and collaborators
AlFayhaa General Hospital
Lead sponsor
University of Basrah
Collaborator
Ministry of Health, Iraq
Collaborator