Newsletter

[ Vol. 11 No. 3 ] (September - December 2010 )
The Evaluation of nutritional risk on surgical inpatients using NRS-2002

Tikfu Gee¹, Jun Ling Cheong², Sivakami J³, Kay Boon Tan^2
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
²Department of Dietetics and Food Service, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
³Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and healthcare cost. Multiple nutritional screening tools are developed to detect patients who are nutritionally at risk in order to implement early intervention. Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002) is a validated screening tool and is recommended by European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) to be applied in hospital setting. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional risk of all elective and emergency surgical inpatients using NRS-2002. These patients were screened by trained doctors, pharmacists, and dieticians. A total risk score of 3 and above indicated that the patient was nutritionally at risk and a nutritional care plan should be initiated. 40% of patients were found to be nutritionally at risk, especially those with malignant disease. Routine nutritional screening is necessary to all surgical inpatients in order to identify those who need early nutritional intervention. NRS is found to be very applicable because it is easy to use, convenient, and fast.

From  
PENSA 2009
“Energizing Nutrition Support Practice for Life”
June 5-7 2009, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Page: 97