Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score as a Potential Prognostic Indicator of In-Hospital Mortality, Sepsis and Length of Stay in an Internal Medicine Department

The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score represents poor nutritional status and has been identified as an indicator of adverse outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of the CONUT score on in-hospital outcomes in an Internal Medicine Department. This is a retrospective study analyzing data from 369 patients, divided into four groups based on the CONUT score: normal (0-1), mild-high (2-4), moderate-high (5-8), and marked high (9-12). In-hospital all-cause mortality increased from normal to marked high CONUT score group (2.2% vs. 3.6% vs. 13.4% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.009). Furthermore, a higher CONUT score was linked to a longer length of hospital stay (LOS) (9.48 +/- 6.22 vs. 11.09 +/- 7.11 vs. 12.45 +/- 7.88 vs. 13.10 +/- 8.12, p < 0.013) and an increased prevalence of sepsis. The excess risk of a high CONUT score relative to a low CONUT score remained significant after adjusting for confounders (all-cause mortality: OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1-9.7, p < 0.02; sepsis: OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-4.9, p < 0.01; LOS: OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.9, p < 0.007). The present study demonstrated that an increased CONUT score is related to a higher risk of short-term in-hospital death and complications.

Automated summary

The CONUT score, which represents poor nutritional status, has been shown to be an indicator of adverse outcomes. This retrospective study analyzed data from 369 patients, divided into four groups based on the CONUT score. In-hospital all-cause mortality, length of hospital stay, and the prevalence of sepsis increased with higher CONUT scores. The increased risk associated with a high CONUT score remained significant even after adjusting for confounders. These findings highlight the importance of CONUT scores in predicting short-term in-hospital outcomes and complications.