Tag: Nutritional risk assessment

According to recent studies, a high percentage of surgical patients may be at risk for malnutrition, a factor that significantly impacts surgical outcomes. A preoperative nutrition score is a standardized medical tool that helps healthcare teams identify and manage this nutritional risk, ultimately improving a patient's recovery trajectory.

Malnutrition affects 40–50% of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Early and accurate nutritional screening is crucial for identifying at-risk patients, and the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score has emerged as the most effective and widely used tool for this purpose.

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition, which includes undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition, is one of the greatest global health challenges. Understanding what is nutritional risk is the crucial first step toward identifying and addressing these imbalances before they cause long-term health problems.

The Nutritional Risk Screening Tool (NRS 2002) is recommended by the European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) for use in hospitals to detect malnutrition risk. This tool is crucial for identifying patients who may require nutritional support, thereby reducing complications and improving patient outcomes.

Malnutrition is highly prevalent among critically ill patients, with studies reporting rates ranging from 30% to over 70% depending on the assessment tool and patient population. This common and serious issue poses a significant threat to a patient's recovery and is associated with multiple adverse clinical outcomes.