Nutritional risk assessment with NRS-2002 in inpatients hospitalized neurology clinic: a single center cross-sectional study

Objective: Long-term illnesses and hospitalizations can negatively affect the nutritional status of individuals, and have a risk for malnutrition. Nutritional status of patients in clinics are important during the treatment process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of inpatients in a neurology clinic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on inpatients receiving treatment in neurology clinic. The characteristics of patients were questioned using a questionnaire form. Anthropometric measurements (body height, body weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and calf circumference) were taken, and nutritional risk assessment (with Nutritional Risk Screening – 2002) and biochemical data (hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, and vitamin B12) were evaluated. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 100 patients, between the ages of 18-86 years were included. The nutritional risk screening scores of patients who stated they had no appetite and non-smoking patients are higher. As the length of hospital stay increases, risk of malnutrition increases and when modeling according to age, gender, and smoking according to the regression analysis still positively affected. As mid-upper arm circumference and calf circumference decreases, the risk of malnutrition increases. Another results of regression analysis is that as hemoglobin and hematocrit decreases, risk of malnutrition increases. Conclusion: This study showed that patients at risk of malnutrition had low hematocrit levels and was negatively affected by mid-upper arm circumference and calf circumference. Also malnutrition was negatively affected by hospital length of stay. These results reveal importance of nutritional screening in patients hospitalized in the neurology clinic.