Prognostic value of the mini nutritional assessment–short form administered in hospitalized patients with interstitial pneumonia: A retrospective single-center cohort study

BACKGROUND: Nutritional status is increasingly recognized as an important prognostic factor in chronic diseases; however, its impact on interstitial pneumonia (IP) remains unclear. The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) is a practical screening tool that can be incorporated into multidisciplinary care. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of the MNA-SF score in hospitalized patients with IP. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with IP admitted between January 2022 and December 2024. Nutritional status, assessed at admission by nursing staff using the MNA-SF, was categorized as normal (score 12-14), at risk of malnutrition (8-11), or malnourished (0-7). Clinical, physiological, and radiological data were collected. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the MNA-SF. RESULTS: Among 274 patients (149 with idiopathic IP and 125 with secondary IP), 139 (50.7%) had normal nutritional status, 104 (38.0%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 31 (11.3%) were malnourished. During follow-up, 96 patients (35.4%) died. Mortality rates increased across the nutritional categories (18.7%, 44.2%, and 77.4%, respectively; p < 0.001). The MNA-SF score was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.99; p = 0.040), after adjustment for age, sex, serum C-reactive protein, percent predicted forced vital capacity, and usual interstitial pneumonia pattern on computed tomography. CONCLUSION: The MNA-SF score was significantly associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with IP. The MNA-SF may serve as a practical tool for prognostic risk stratification in hospitalized patients with IP.