Nutritional Status and Perceived Stress among Hospitalized Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
NCDs, Nutrtion, Malnutrition, Stress, HospitalAbstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and are frequently associated with poor nutritional status and psychological stress, particularly among hospitalized patients. These factors can adversely affect disease management, recovery, and overall clinical outcomes.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and stress levels among non-communicable disease inpatients and examine the relationship between them.
This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and perceived stress levels among hospitalized patients with non-communicable diseases in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and to examine the association between these factors.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 20th February and 18th May 2023 in tertiary care hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Data were collected from 400 hospitalized patients with non-communicable diseases using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Included conditions were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders, confirmed through medical records. Nutritional status and perceived stress were assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening tool (NRS-2002) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), respectively
Results: The study results showed that 60.5% of the participants were nutritionally at risk, while 39.5% were categorized as nourished. Among the study population, 42.75% reported moderate stress levels and 42.50% reported high stress levels. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant model (χ² = 59.93, df = 6, p < 0.001). Increasing age (OR = 0.741, 95% CI: 0.639–0.860), presence of chronic medical conditions (OR = 0.850, 95% CI: 0.771–0.938), and higher perceived stress scores (OR = 0.496, 95% CI: 0.362–0.678) were significantly associated with nutritional status among hospitalized patients with non-communicable diseases.
Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of nutritional risk and elevated perceived stress among hospitalized patients with non-communicable diseases in tertiary care hospitals. Nutritional status was significantly associated with age, chronic medical conditions, and perceived stress levels.
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