BACKGROUND: Malnutrition can affect surgical patients by increasing length of hospital stay, the incidence of postoperative complications and delayed wound healing, in addition to higher mortality rate. AIM: To diagnose nutritional status of surgical patients. METHODS: Seventy patients were evaluated by anthropometric parameters (weight, height, Body Mass Index and percentage of weight loss) and biochemical (albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit) in admission and in two periods of hospitalization. RESULTS: On admission malnutrition percentage was higher in the elderly (32.4%) and excess weight in adults (33.4%). Weight during the 15 days of hospitalization presented 88.6% weight loss and significant reduction of Body Mass Index, while remaining within the normal range. Patients with malignant disease had higher nutritional risk in admission, positive association with hypoalbuminemia and weight loss (63%), Body Mass Index (38%) and albumin (17.1%). CONCLUSIONS: 1. There was no severe weight loss throughout the hospitalization; 2 - on admission and during the hospital stay, the weight loss was the best tool for assessing the nutritional status of surgical patients, compared with Body Mass Index and the albumin.
Malnutrition; Nutritional status; Surgery
