Nutritional screening of patients undergoing surgery or oncological treatment in four Croatian hospitals

To identify malnourishment of surgical and oncologic patients or those at risk of becoming malnourished at four hospital centers in Croatia by use of nutritional screening questionnaire developed specifically for the purpose of this study.

The study included 1639 adult patients: 1475 scheduled for various surgical treatments and 164 oncologic patients receiving primary or adjuvant radio- and/or chemotherapy. The nutritional screening questionnaire consisted of data on recently reduced food intake and weight loss, body mass index (BMI), estimated period of perioperative fasting or oncologic disease status, categorization of surgical procedure, and additional stress expected. Each component was rated on a 0-2 or 0-3 scale. A score of seven points was chosen as the borderline between patients at risk of malnutrition (score

Reduced food intake and weight loss were reported by 20% and 33% of the patients, respectively. Median BMI was 26 (range, 23.2-28.9) and underweight BMI values (<20) were found in 7% of the patients. Screening questionnaire score of

Nutritional screening questionnaire could be used for the identification of patients being at risk of malnutrition. An adequate prospective study is required for its final validation.