title: Undernutrition, risk of malnutrition and obesity in gastroenterological patients: A multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of undernutrition, risk of malnutrition and obesity in the Italian gastroenterological population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Italian Hospital Gastroenterology Association conducted an observational, cross-sectional multicenter study. Weight, weight loss, and body mass index were evaluated. Undernutrition was defined as unintentional weight loss > 10% in the last three-six months. Values of Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) > 2, NRS-2002 > 3, and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) from 17 to 25 identified risk of malnutrition in outpatients, inpatients and elderly patients, respectively. A body mass index ≥ 30 indicated obesity. Gastrointestinal pathologies were categorized into acute, chronic and neoplastic diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 513 patients participated in the study. The prevalence of undernutrition was 4.6% in outpatients and 19.6% in inpatients. Moreover, undernutrition was present in 4.3% of the gastrointestinal patients with chronic disease, 11.0% of those with acute disease, and 17.6% of those with cancer. The risk of malnutrition increased progressively and significantly in chronic, acute and neoplastic gastrointestinal diseases in inpatients and the elderly population. Logistical regression analysis confirmed that cancer was a risk factor for undernutrition (OR = 2.7; 95%CI: 1.2-6.44, P = 0.02). Obesity and overweight were more frequent in outpatients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 63% of outpatients and 80% of inpatients in gastroenterological centers suffered from significant changes in body composition and required specific nutritional competence and treatment.
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Rizzi
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Mazzuoli
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Nunzia
authors: N
authors: Regano
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Inguaggiato
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Bianco
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Gioacchino
authors: G
authors: Leandro
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Bugianesi
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Noè
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Nicoletta
authors: N
authors: Orzes
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Pallini
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Maria Letizia
authors: ML
authors: Petroni
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Testino
authors: Massimiliano Rizzi, Silvia Mazzuoli, Nunzia Regano, Francesco William Guglielmi, Gastroenterology Unit, San Nicola Pellegrino Hospital, 76125 Trani, Italy.
authors: Francesco William
authors: FW
authors: Guglielmi
keywords: Gastrointestinal disease; Malnutrition; NRS2002; Obesity; Risk of Malnutrition