(P08-011-23) Nicotine Dependence as a Predictor of Malnutrition Diagnosis in Hospitalized People Living With HIV (PLWH)

Objectives: Previous studies have shown a positive relationship between cigarette smoking and malnutrition status in diverse populations. This study investigates the association between a history of nicotine dependence (HND) and malnutrition diagnosis among PLWH (>18 years) hospitalized in an urban academic medical center. This is the first study to examine the relationship between HND, whether or not current, and malnutrition in hospitalized PLWH.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital in-patient data from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. From an initial data set of 1,643 PLWH, 450 had complete laboratory data available. Of those, 210 were diagnosed with malnutrition. The association between diagnosis of a history of nicotine dependence (ICD-10 code Z87.891: repeated use of tobacco products leading to dependence, but no longer use nicotine) and malnutrition (ICD-10 code E43: unspecified severe protein-energy malnutrition, E44: protein-energy malnutrition of moderate and mild degree), was examined in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Other dichotomized variables included in the analysis were BMI (≤ 18.5 kg/m²), length of hospital stay (≤7 days), age (≤ 65 years), CD4 count (≤ 200 cells/mm³⁾, albumin level (≤ 3.5g/dL), Medicaid (y, n), and sex (m, f).

Results: In a multivariable logistic regression analysis controlling for potential confounders and effect modifiers, only a HND was significantly associated with diagnosis of malnutrition with an Odds Ratio (OR) =2.34 (95% CI: 1.27, 4.31, p=0.02).

Conclusions: Even with the increase in attention to diagnosing and treating malnutrition in hospitals, the findings from this cross-sectional study point to a significant association between a HND and malnutrition diagnosis. Given the significant association, this merits further study to confirm this relationship.

Funding Sources: There are no funding sources.