WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Ethar Ibrahim Jasim Almahdi* and Mohammed Sattar Maaroof

ABSTRACT

Background: Malnutrition is a critical and often under recognized complication in burn patients, playing a significant role in influencing both short- and long-term outcomes. This study examines burn patients' malnutrition from admission to 1 week later. Method: A prospective study was conducted on Al-Najaf Burn Centre patients having at least 10% TBSA burns. TBSA, comorbidities, and demographics were assessed for 40 individuals. Results: The results show a significant increase in malnutrition risk, with MUST scores rising from 0.30 at admission to 1.03 after 7 days, and BMI decreasing from 24.6 to 23.2 during the same period. Patients with greater body weight loss and lower BMI were at higher risk of malnutrition. No significant relationship was found between burn surface area (BSA) and malnutrition risk. However, body weight loss was strongly associated with worsening nutritional status. Conclusion: This study highlights the dietary challenges burn patients face, with malnutrition risk rising in the first week after hospitalization. Patients with a lower baseline BMI and more body weight loss are more likely to deteriorate nutritionally, as seen by a significant BMI decline and an increase in MUST scores within seven days of admission. Malnutrition risk was not associated with burn surface area (BSA). We found a strong link between malnutrition risk and body weight decrease. These findings emphasize the need for early and vigorous dietary therapy in burn patients to enhance recovery and prevent malnutrition.

[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]