Prediction of postoperative length of stay by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form for rectal cancer

Abstract Background Malnutrition is common in rectal cancer patients and may affect surgical outcomes. Prolonged length of hospital stay may result in decreased activity after discharge, suggesting the importance of the early identification of malnutrition. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) is non-invasive and may be useful for screening malnutrition in rectal cancer patients. Methods This observational study examined 153 patients who underwent curative surgery for rectal cancer. The preoperative nutritional status was evaluated using the MNA-SF, which categorized patients into the Normal (score: 12–14), Risk of malnutrition (score: 8–11), and Malnourished groups (score: 0–7). The postoperative length of stay was examined using a multiple regression analysis with the stepwise method. Results Ten patients (6.5%) were classified as the Malnourished group. The multiple regression analysis identified the Malnourished group (β = 0.20, p = 0.006), postoperative complications (β = 0.32, p < 0.0001), operative time (β = 0.32, p = 0.01), stoma creation (β = 0.20, p = 0.01), and open surgery (β = 0.12, p = 0.02) as independent predictors of a prolonged postoperative length of stay (R 2 = 0.48). Conclusions Preoperative MNA-SF of 0–7 was an independent predictor of a prolonged postoperative length of stay for rectal cancer. Early nutritional screening may provide an opportunity for timely interventions to facilitate postoperative recovery.