Identifying Malnutrition with Nutritional Risk Index in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

Malnutrition continues to be a significant problem in hospitalized patients. Many indices and scoring systems have been developed to predict malnutrition, but there is still no excepted standard measurement method. In this study, the prevalence of malnutrition was determined in hospitalized patients with Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) anthropometric measurements and various laboratory parameters. After ethics committee approval and patients' informed consent, 251 hospitalized patients were admitted to the study. Upon admission, height, weight, triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF) and midarm circumference (MAC) were recorded, and blood samples were obtained for measurement of complete blood count, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP). Nutritional Risk Index was calculated by measurement of the serum albumin levels and the weight loss in the previous 6 months. The prevalence of malnutrition determined by NRI was 91 patients (36%). 11 patients (4.4%) were mildly malnourished, 55 patients (21.9%) were moderately malnourished, 25 patients (10%) were severely malnourished. In the mildly malnourished group, the albumin and CRP values were different than the other groups (p<0.001). Moderately malnourished patients differed from the well-nourished patients in terms of age, body weight, body weight loss, BMI, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol levels and duration of hospitalization. There was a significant statistical difference in body weight, body weight loss, albumin, total protein levels and anthropometric measurements between moderately malnourished and severely malnourished groups. Significant correlation was found between NRI and laboratory and anthropometric measurements. Nutritional Risk Index which is correlated with anthropometric measurements, albumin and total cholesterol levels, is a simple and cost-effective method without any technical difficulty.