Prevalence of Malnutrition in People Hospitalized for Surgery: Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition poses a significant challenge to public health, affecting millions worldwide, particularly among people in hospital, notably among surgical cases that require adequate nutritional support for effective recovery. Factors contributing to malnutrition include chronic illnesses that hinder nutritional intake and socioeconomic barriers limiting food access. This study aimed to assess malnutrition in surgical patients at admission to enhance recovery, minimize complications, and improve clinical outcomes. Methods: This prospective observational cross-sectional study involved 282 adults hospitalized for over 48 h for surgery. This study utilized the MUST and MNA-SF assessments to evaluate malnutrition risk, confirming diagnoses via the GLIM criteria. Statistical analysis, including the Pearson chi-square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression, identified significant malnutrition risk factors. Results: This study found an 18.1% malnutrition prevalence among these patients, with Stage 1 malnutrition being the most common at 9.6%. Additionally, a notable proportion of patients were classified as obese (46.5%) or overweight (27.7%). Men had higher malnutrition rates (12.8%) than women (5.3%). Age disparities were also significant, with higher rates among older (7.4%) and younger adults (7.1%) compared to middle-aged individuals (2.5%). Patients undergoing elective surgeries (9.9%) and emergency surgeries (6.7%) had higher malnutrition rates than those admitted for surgical complications. Furthermore, malnutrition was observed in 12% of patients undergoing orthopedic or general surgeries. Conclusions: Among adult patients admitted to surgical wards, malnutrition prevalence during admission was 18%, underscoring the need for comprehensive preoperative nutritional assessments and targeted interventions for patients undergoing surgery.