EE326 Malnutrition Prevalence and Economic Burden Among US Hospitalized Older Adult Patients with and without COVID-19

Malnutrition is a prevalent condition affecting 30-50% of hospitalized patients. linked to impairments in health outcomes and increased economic burden on healthcare systems. We assessed the prevalence malnutrition by examining demographic characteristics, Disease Related Group (DRG) payments associated claims among Medicare inpatients (65+ years) with without COVID-19. Hospital inpatient COVID-19 from Centers for & Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) between October 2020 - September 2021 were analyzed. The International Classification Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) used diagnoses. Demographic variables compared based status; was analyzed DRG payment cases Among 7,394,657 claims, only 12% had documented diagnosis. Of these patients, 1.2% Regardless status, malnourished patients averaged 75 years age, predominantly female (54%) White (78%) followed Black (14%), Hispanic (2%). Sepsis, kidney failure, urinary tract infection (UTI) most common primary diagnoses regardless status. Malnourished significantly higher ($27,407 vs. $18,327) cost outlier ($3,208 $2,049) those COVID-19, other diagnosis confirmed inpatients, thus suggesting that continues be underdiagnosed undertreated --- evidenced high rates hospitalizations/claims both non-COVID-19 cases. It imperative hospitals implement nutrition-focused protocols identify, diagnose address all status (and especially sepsis, UTI). Nutrition-focused can effectively improve patient reduce costs.