The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 tool for detecting malnutrition risk in hospitalised patients: Perspective from a developing country

Abstract

Background/Aims: To verify the validity of the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 test in a Turkish population. Materials and Methods: We prospectively investigated 2566 patients at a tertiary referral hospital. Nutritional status was screened using NRS 2002, and the length of the stay (LOS) was the main outcome measure. Hospital stays >10 days were accepted as prolonged LOS. NRS scores ≥3 were accepted as indicating risk for malnutrition. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for malnutrition risk and prolonged LOS. Results: The mean age of patients was 56.6±16.9 years. According to the NRS 2002, 964 patients (37.6%) were without risk, 1320 (51.4%) warranted surveillance and 282 (11%) were at high risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition rate was the highest in the intensive care unit (22.01%). Prolonged LOS was seen in 24.4% of patients. Intensive care unit stay [odds ratio (OR): 0.585; confidence interval (CI): 1.45-2.22; p<0.001] and an NRS score ≥3 (OR: 0.88; CI: 1.87-3.13; p<0.001) were independent risk factors for prolonged LOS. Conclusion: Improving healthcare outcomes while avoiding preventable healthcare costs is an important goal of healthcare provision in developing countries. NRS 2002 was predictive of LOS, and thus, of patient prognosis. Further community-based studies are warranted to assess the impact of NRS 2002 on reducing healthcare costs.

Nutritional Risk Screening in Gastroenterological Patients at the Rijeka University Hospital Centre

“…Malnutrition risk is usually associated with older age, as previously reported from numerous studies ( 2 , 16 , 27 ), and additionally confirmed by our results. The mean age of our patients was 68.8 years.…”

Nutritional Issues and Nutrition Support in Older Home Care Patients in the City of Zagreb

“…Th e results of this study did not show a statistically signifi cant correlation between the length of hospital stay and the NRS score contradict the results of other studies. A substantial difference in sample size in the studies by Martins et al 26 and Gökcan et al 25 compared to the present study may account for such results.…”

“…An extended stay was defi ned as one that lasted for more than 8 hospital days. A study with a similar objective was conducted by Gökcan et al on a sample of 2566 subjects 25 . Th e fi ndings showed that there was a statistically signifi cant correlation between the length of hospital stay and high nutritional risk.…”

“…A prompt nutritional status assessment or identification of nutritional risk can contribute to a timely and proper nutritional intervention, which reduces the length of hospital stay and ultimately results in lower treatment costs 25 . Martins et al conducted a study on 207 subjects older than 65 with the objective to assess nutritional status of patients using the MST, MNA, SGA and NRS-2002 tools, and to establish whether there is a correlation with length of hospital stay 26 .…”

Nutrition therapy for critically ill patients across the Asia–Pacific and Middle East regions: A consensus statement

“…Furthermore, as interleukin (IL)-6 measurement is not required for the 'modified' NUTRIC score [17], these tests should be feasible in many ICUs in the AsiaePacific and Middle East regions. NRS-2002 was also developed to predict the outcomes of nutritional intervention in critically ill patients, and experience in Turkey has indicated its utility in identifying malnourished patients independently of BMI [18]. However, NRS-2002 and the modified NUTRIC score are not exclusive nutritional risk assessment options [11].…”