Revista JRG de Estudos Acadêmicos · Feb 5, 2026
Association Between Nutritional Indicators and Mortality Risk in Patients Hospitalized in an Emergency Unit
By Barbosa AKF, da Silva MM, Mello VTF et al.
INTRODUCTION: Stabilization Rooms (SE) are strategic units within the urgent and emergency care network, intended for the initial care of critically ill patients, who are characterized by a high prevalence of chronic diseases and nutritional risk. Hospital malnutrition is associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased mortality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between nutritional risk, feeding route, and 28-day mortality in patients admitted to the emergency unit of a public general hospital in the Federal District. METHODS: An observational, prospective, analytical cohort study conducted between March and September 2025 with adult patients admitted to the Red and Yellow SE. Sociodemographic, clinical, and nutritional data were collected, including anthropometric data, body mass index (IMC) classification, and nutritional risk screening using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002). Patients were followed through electronic medical records for 28 days to assess clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 81 patients, with a predominance of males (53.1%) and patients aged 60 years or older (63.0%). A high prevalence of nutritional risk was observed at hospital admission (58.0%) and persisted after 28 days of hospitalization (58.3%). The oral route was the most frequently used both at admission and after 28 days. The 28-day mortality rate was 6.2%, with no statistically significant association between nutritional risk and mortality or between feeding route and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to SE showed a prevalence of nutritional risk. Despite the absence of a statistical association with 28-day mortality, the frequency of nutritional risk among patients who died reinforces the importance of early nutritional screening in emergency units as a fundamental strategy for identifying patients at risk and providing timely nutritional interventions.