6641
document
Risk factors for malnutrition in patients undergoing gastroenterological and hernia surgery : an analysis of 374 patients . OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of 374 surgical patients with gastrointestinal disease and hernias of the abdominal wall ; to identify risk factors associated with a poorer nutritional status in this group of patients and to assess awareness of the patient 's nutritional status by medical teams . SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Malnutrition is prevalent among surgical patients and is associated with higher surgical complication rates and mortality . The major causes of poor nutritional status are related to the underlying disease , socio-economic factors , age , and length of hospitalization . Despite its high prevalence , medical teams often overlook malnutrition , and screening of these patients is not routine . It is of utmost importance to identify patients at risk for malnutrition in order to prevent related complications . METHODS The 374 patients evaluated in this study were a subgroup of a larger multicenter , cross-sectional , randomized study that was carried out in 1996 . Nutritional status was assessed by using Subjective Global Assessment . RESULTS Malnutrition was present in 55 % of the patients , with 19 % of the patients severely malnourished . The presence of cancer , infection , age over 60 years , upper gastrointestinal disease , and longer length of hospital stay all negatively influenced nutritional status . Despite the high prevalence of malnutrition , the medical teams only assessed the nutritional status of a few patients . CONCLUSION Malnutrition was highly prevalent in this setting of patients . Therefore , patients with the risk factors above presented should routinely undergo nutritional screening and/or assessment in order to be able to early diagnose or prevent malnutrition and its correlated morbidity and mortality .
6642
Intervention_Surgical
gastroenterological and hernia surgery
6643
Intervention_Educational
Nutritional status
6644
Intervention_Educational
Subjective Global Assessment .
6645
Outcome_Physical
Malnutrition
6646
Outcome_Physical
nutritional status
6647
Outcome_Physical
malnutrition
6648
Outcome_Physical
nutritional
6649
Outcome_Physical
Malnutrition
6650
Participant_Condition
patients undergoing gastroenterological and hernia surgery : an analysis of 374 patients .
6651
Participant_Sample-size
374
6652
Participant_Condition
surgical patients with gastrointestinal disease and hernias of the abdominal wall ;