title: Clinical impact of malnutrition on complication rate and length of stay in elective ENT patients: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: Malnutrition is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity, mortality and a prolonged hospital stay for in-hospital patients. While most available data on the impact of malnutrition on health-related and financial implications refer to gastroenterologic or abdominal surgery patients, little is known about the impact of malnutrition on Ear Nose Throat (ENT)/head and neck surgery patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of malnutrition on morbidity and length of hospital stay in an elective ENT/head and neck surgery patient cohort. The study was performed as a single-center, prospective cohort study at a tertiary referral centre. Nutritional risk at admission was assessed using the NRS-2002 screening tool. Multivariate regression models were used to determine independent risk factors for complications and a prolonged hospitalization. Three hundred fifty one participants were included in the study. A malignant disease was found in 62 participants (17.7 %). 62 patients (17.7 %) were at a moderate to severe risk of malnutrition. A bad general health condition and complications during hospital stay could be identified as independent risk factors for a prolonged hospitalization. Patients with a malignant tumor showed a more than fourfold higher risk of developing at least one complication. Malnutrition, however, was not statistically associated with a higher complication rate or a prolonged hospital stay. Our data suggests that malnutrition does not seem to play such an important role as a risk factor for complications and a prolonged hospital stay in ENT patients as it does in other disciplines like abdominal surgery or gastroenterology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. ulrich.kisser@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kisser
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kufeldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adderson-Kisser
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Harréus
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rittler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complications; Length of stay; Malnutrition; Morbidity