Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern

Background. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is underdiagnosed, with 30 to 60% of patients admitted being malnourished. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of patients in a general surgery ward and to define the correlation between the risk of malnutrition and...

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Main Authors: Offir Ben-Ishay, Haya Gertsenzon, Tanya Mashiach, Yoram Kluger, Irit Chermesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/840512
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author Offir Ben-Ishay
Haya Gertsenzon
Tanya Mashiach
Yoram Kluger
Irit Chermesh
author_facet Offir Ben-Ishay
Haya Gertsenzon
Tanya Mashiach
Yoram Kluger
Irit Chermesh
author_sort Offir Ben-Ishay
collection DOAJ
description Background. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is underdiagnosed, with 30 to 60% of patients admitted being malnourished. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of patients in a general surgery ward and to define the correlation between the risk of malnutrition and the hospital course and clinical outcome. Study design. The study group included 100 consecutive patients admitted to a general surgery ward who were ambulant and could undergo the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Results. Thirty-two patients (33%) had aMUST score of 2 or higher, and were therefore defined at high-malnutrition risk. The patients at risk had longer hospitalization and worse outcome. The length of stay of the malnourished patients was significantly longer than that of patients without malnutrition risk (18.8 ± 11.5 vs. 7 ± 5.3 days, 𝑃=.003). Mortality in the high-risk group was higher overall, in hospital, and after six months and one year of followup. Conclusions. Medical personnel must be aware that malnutrition afflicts even patients whose background is not suggestive of malnutrition. Best results are achieved when cooperation of all staff members is enlisted, because malnutrition has severe consequences and can be treated easily.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-6121
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publishDate 2011-01-01
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series Gastroenterology Research and Practice
spelling doaj-art-c780612a395f4adca2ca36e7f326bf772025-02-03T01:28:39ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2011-01-01201110.1155/2011/840512840512Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for ConcernOffir Ben-Ishay0Haya Gertsenzon1Tanya Mashiach2Yoram Kluger3Irit Chermesh4Department of Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Quality Assurancey, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartment of Gastroenterology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, IsraelBackground. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is underdiagnosed, with 30 to 60% of patients admitted being malnourished. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of patients in a general surgery ward and to define the correlation between the risk of malnutrition and the hospital course and clinical outcome. Study design. The study group included 100 consecutive patients admitted to a general surgery ward who were ambulant and could undergo the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Results. Thirty-two patients (33%) had aMUST score of 2 or higher, and were therefore defined at high-malnutrition risk. The patients at risk had longer hospitalization and worse outcome. The length of stay of the malnourished patients was significantly longer than that of patients without malnutrition risk (18.8 ± 11.5 vs. 7 ± 5.3 days, 𝑃=.003). Mortality in the high-risk group was higher overall, in hospital, and after six months and one year of followup. Conclusions. Medical personnel must be aware that malnutrition afflicts even patients whose background is not suggestive of malnutrition. Best results are achieved when cooperation of all staff members is enlisted, because malnutrition has severe consequences and can be treated easily.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/840512
spellingShingle Offir Ben-Ishay
Haya Gertsenzon
Tanya Mashiach
Yoram Kluger
Irit Chermesh
Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
title_full Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
title_fullStr Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
title_full_unstemmed Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
title_short Malnutrition in Surgical Wards: A Plea for Concern
title_sort malnutrition in surgical wards a plea for concern
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/840512
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AT hayagertsenzon malnutritioninsurgicalwardsapleaforconcern
AT tanyamashiach malnutritioninsurgicalwardsapleaforconcern
AT yoramkluger malnutritioninsurgicalwardsapleaforconcern
AT iritchermesh malnutritioninsurgicalwardsapleaforconcern