Serum albumin levels are strongly associated with the morbidity, prognosis, and mortality rates of patients with hypoalbuminemia, which is a frequent problem during hospitalization. An observational retrospective study was carried out to analyze changes in albumin levels in hospitalized patients at the “Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata—PTV” in 2018. The prevalence of preexisting hypoalbuminemia at the time of discharge from hospital was investigated using a sample of 9428 patients. Information was collected from the discharge files recorded in the central informatics system of the hospital. Analysis of albumin levels at admission and at discharge was conducted by classes of albuminemia and then stratified by age. At the time of admission, hypoalbuminemia was found to be present in more than half of the sample, with no sex differences. The serum albumin level tended to decrease with age, with pathologic levels appearing from 50 years and progressive worsening thereafter. The condition of marked and mild hypoalbuminemia was more prevalent in patients over 65 years of age. Our findings suggest that hypoalbuminemia should be considered a dangerous condition in itself and a serious public health problem. We aimed to emphasize the role of albumin as useful marker of the in-hospital malnutrition and frailty, to be integrated in the routinely assessment of patients for reconsidering ad hoc healthcare pathways after discharge from hospital, especially when dealing with fragile populations.

(1) Background: Supplementary feeding programs (SFPs) are effective in the community-based treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and prevention of severe acute malnutrition (SAM); (2) Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on a sample of 1266 Zambian malnourished children assisted from 2012 to 2014 in the Rainbow Project SFPs. Nutritional status was evaluated according to WHO/Unicef methodology. We performed univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression to identify the main predictors of mortality. In addition, a time-to event analysis was performed to identify predictors of failure and time to cure events; (3) Results: The analysis included 858 malnourished children (19 months ± 9.4; 49.9% males). Program outcomes met international standards with a better performance for MAM compared to SAM. Cox regression identified SAM (3.8; 2.1–6.8), HIV infection (3.1; 1.7–5.5), and WAZ <−3 (3.1; 1.6–5.7) as predictors of death. Time to event showed 80% of children recovered by SAM/MAM at 24 weeks. (4) Conclusions: Preventing deterioration of malnutrition, coupled to early detection of HIV/AIDS with adequate antiretroviral treatment, and extending the duration of feeding supplementation, could be crucial elements for ensuring full recovery and improve child survival in malnourished Zambian children.

Background: Child malnutrition, in all its forms, is a public health priority in Zambia. After implementations based on a previous evaluation in 2012–14 were made, the efficacy of the Rainbow Project Supplementary Feeding Programs (SFPs) for the integrated management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and underweight was reassessed in 2015–17. Methods: The outcomes were compared with International Standards and with those of 2012–14. Cox proportional risk regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of mortality and defaulting. Results: The data for 900 under-five year-old malnourished children were analyzed. Rainbow’s 2015–17 outcomes met International Standards, for total and also when stratified for different type of malnutrition. A better performance than 2012–14 was noted in the main areas previously identified as critical: mortality rates were halved (5.6% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.01); significant improvements in average weight gain and mean length of stay were registered for recovered children (p < 0.001). HIV infection (5.5; 1.9–15.9), WAZ <–3 (4.6; 1.3–16.1), and kwashiorkor (3.5; 1.2–9.5) remained the major predictors of mortality. Secondly, training community volunteers consistently increased the awareness of a child’s HIV status (+30%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Rainbow SFPs provide an integrated community-based approach for the treatment and prevention of child malnutrition in Zambia, with its effectiveness significantly enhanced after the gaps in activities were filled.

Global malnutrition and hunger represent crises of alarming magnitude, threatening progress toward all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition are complex and interconnected, including conflict, climate change, migration, population aging, and the erosion of social capital. Despite some progress in specific areas, current trends reveal insufficient advancement toward key global nutrition and diet-related, non-communicable disease targets, confirming the persistent double burden of malnutrition. Without urgent, multisectoral action—including investments in integrated nutrition policies, resilient food systems, and conflict resolution—the goal of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 remains unlikely. The World Food Program estimates that in 2025, 319 million people will face acute food insecurity; if current trends persist, approximately 582 million people could still be chronically undernourished by 2030. Furthermore, overweight and obesity are projected to continue rising globally, with adult obesity prevalence expected to reach 19.8% in 2030. This narrative review synthesizes current global trends in malnutrition—both undernutrition and overnutrition—and food insecurity; it explores the root causes driving these crises and analyzes the scientific literature to inform future research in the critical years leading up to the 2030 Agenda deadline. It calls for coordinated global efforts that prioritize vulnerable populations, which are essential to reversing the current trajectory of malnutrition and hunger. Since nutrition is a fundamental component of sustainable development, achieving the SDG 2 targets is essential to the accomplishment of all 17 goals.

To investigate Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among Iraqi healthcare workers-HCWs. Cross-sectional survey. In February 2021, an anonymous questionnaire on the willingness of receiving Covid-19 vaccination was submitted to a sample of HWCs in the Dohuk Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Overall, 1704 questionnaires were analysed by means of univariate and multivariate statistics. The sample included 978 males and 726 females (Mean age: 36.9 ± 10.1), working in Primary Health Centres (65.8%) or in Public Hospitals (34.2%). Professions ranged from being physician/paramedics (39.3%) to administrative/laboratory staff (31.7%); 17.0% had attended up to secondary school, the rest had a higher education. Considering health conditions, 1.8% reported a poor health status and 11.5% a chronic disease. Overall, 475 people (27.9%) reported Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, with fear of side-effects (41.4%) and lack of confidence in using the vaccine (23.5%) being the most common perceived barriers. Midwifes (61.1%) and assistant nurses (45.5%) were the most hesitant; physicians the less (12.3%). According to a binary logistic model, holding lower educational level (adjOR = 2.158; 95% CI:1.654–2.815), being female (adjOR = 1.622; 95% CI:1.289–2.040), having pre-existing chronic disease (adjOR = 1.954; 95% CI:1.280–2.983), and self-perceiving a poor health status (adjOR = 3.673; 95% CI:1.610–8.379) were independent predictors of higher odds of hesitancy. Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among HCWs represents an important public health concern, since they play a paramount role for a successful vaccination campaign within the community. Our results show the need in Iraq to implement educational interventions for strengthening the confidence of HWCs towards the Covid-19 vaccine, therefore positively influencing the general public's attitude.

Social frailty is a warring phenomenon in Europe, negatively impacting children’s health and nutrition. We present the results of a social programme facilitating access to physical activities for vulnerable children in Italy. 311 school-age children enrolled in the programme between 2015 and 2017 were assessed for health and lifestyle, anthropometric and nutritional status. Data were compared by origin (Italians vs. immigrants) and then immigrants were split into sub-groups: first- and second-generation. Poor socio-economic status exposed children to a lack of access to health services, and drove imbalanced eating behaviour. 20.8% of children were not registered with the National Health Services (immigrants p < .0001); 22% were not fully vaccinated (no differences between groups). A double burden of malnutrition coexisted: overweight was higher for Italians, underweight and poor linear growth for immigrants. Nearly 40% of children had a poor Mediterranean Diet adequacy (KIDMED index). Our findings show that when social programmes, besides their main scope of inclusion and integration, holistically approach their beneficiaries, they can play an important role in monitoring lifestyle conditions and facilitating access to primary health care.