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Diaeta
On-line version ISSN 1852-7337
Abstract
DI SIBIO, Mariana et al. Review of different nutritional screening tools for hospitalized patients. Diaeta [online]. 2018, vol.36, n.164, pp.30-38. ISSN 1852-7337.
Introduction: the prevalence of clinical malnutrition among hospitalized patients ranges between 20% and 50%. Nutritional screening is essential to identify those patients at risk of malnutrition and constitutes the first step towards nutrition care process. Aim: to carry out a literature review of the different validated nutritional screening tools for hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: a review of nutritional screening tools in the databases Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs from 2007 to 2017, plus the original articles of the screening tools methods. The key words were: nutritional screening tools, nutritional assessment, malnutrition, hospitalized patients. All articles in Spanish and English were included. 82 particles were identified, out of which 11 included a population over 18 years old, plus the original works, and those of comparison of the nutritional screening tools that were validated. It were excluded studies with sample number under 60 and with nutritional screening tools for specific risk groups. Results: 11 studies that compare nutritional screening tools were identified. The tools included were: SGA, MNA, MNA-SF, MST, NRS-2002, MUST, SNAQ and CONUT. The studies turned out to be heterogeneous regarding characteristics of the population assessed, number of patients, statistical analysis, tools used and comparison patterns. Conclusion: It is important to count on a malnutrition screening tool to detect those patients at risk of malnutrition, in order to do early intervention. Nutritional screening is a strategy to prioritize the importance and/ or urgency of nutritional intervention. The application of systematic processes for the detection of nutritional risk is essential to carry out a timely intervention, so as to decrease the patient's morbidity and mortality, to improve his/her quality of life, and to diminish the costs generated.
Keywords : Nutritional screening tools; Nutritional assessment; Malnutrition; Hospitalized patients.