Prevalence and influencing factors associated with the risk of malnutrition among long-term inpatients with schizophrenia in China
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By
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March 25, 2026
Objective:
To assess the nutritional risk status and identify factors associated with malnutrition in long-term hospitalized schizophrenia patients in China, highlighting the significance of these findings in the context of existing literature.
Key Findings:
- 22.44% of patients were identified as being at nutritional risk, indicating a significant public health concern.
- Nutritional-risk patients were older, had longer hospitalization durations, and lower BMI, suggesting a need for targeted interventions.
- Hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin levels were significantly lower in the nutritional-risk group, which may impact recovery.
- Age was positively correlated with nutritional risk, while BMI was a protective factor, emphasizing the importance of monitoring these variables.
Interpretation:
The study highlights a significant prevalence of nutritional risk among schizophrenia patients, emphasizing the need for early nutritional assessment and intervention, particularly in light of existing research.
Limitations:
- The study is limited to a single center, which may affect generalizability and introduce potential biases in data collection.
- Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences regarding nutritional risk factors.
Conclusion:
Older patients and those with lower BMI are at higher risk of malnutrition, necessitating targeted nutritional interventions, such as dietary counseling and supplementation, to improve clinical outcomes.
