Risk of malnutrition in general surgical patients

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the malnutrition risk of patients hospitalized in the general surgery clinic and to evaluate the relationship between malnutrition risk and anthropometric measurements. Material and Methods: The study was carried out with 228 adults who were hospitalized in the general surgery clinic. Weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, upper middle arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and handgrip strength measurements were taken. The nutritional status of the patients was evaluated with Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS)-2002 and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Results: According to the NRS-2002, 30.3% of patients had a risk of malnutrition; according to the SGA 34.2% had moderate and 12.3% had severe malnutrition. The anthropometric measurements evaluated in the study and the length of hospital stay (LHOS) were found to be related to the NRS-2002 score and SGA level (p<0.05). The parameter that most affected the NRS-2002 score was MUAC (19.6%), the LHOS was the most affected by the NRS-2002 score (8.6%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The determination of malnutrition risk in general surgery clinics by using practical screening tools such as NRS-2002 and SGA and evaluating anthropometric measurements at certain intervals will enable early nutritional support to be initiated, thereby preventing the risk of developing malnutrition and its complications and contributing surgical procedures' success.

Keywords

• anthropometric measurements
• general surgery
• length of hospital stay
• malnutrition
• Nutritional Risk Screening-2002
• Subjective Global Assessment

References

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