Complementarity of Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) for predicting poor clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the ability of Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) to predict malnutrition related to poor clinical outcomes.


METHODS
We assessed 705 patients at a public university hospital within 48 h of admission. Logistic regression and number needed to screen (NNS) were calculated to test the complementarity between the tools and their ability to predict very long length of hospital stay (VLLOS), complications, and death.


RESULTS
Of the patients screened, 27.9% were at nutritional risk (NRS+) and 38.9% were malnourished (SGA B or C). Compared to those patients not at nutritional risk, NRS+, SGA B or C patients were at increased risk for complications (p=0.03, 0.02, and 0.003, respectively). NRS+ patients had an increased risk of death (p=0.03), and SGA B and C patients had an increased likelihood of VLLOS (p=0.008 and p<0.0001, respectively). Patients who were both NRS+ and SGA C had lower estimates of NNS than patients who were NRS+ or SGA C only, though their confidence intervals did overlap.


CONCLUSIONS
The concurrent application of SGA in NRS+ patients might enhance the ability to predict poor clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients in Brazil.
Raslan
Mariana
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, LIM 35, São Paulo, Brazil. metanutri@usp.br
Gonzalez
Maria Cristina
MC
Torrinhas
Raquel Suzana M M
RS
Ravacci
Graziela Rosa
GR
Pereira
Julio C R
JC
Waitzberg
Dan L
DL
D001938:Brazil; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome