Prognostic value of nutritional screening tools for patients scheduled for cardiac surgery

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013 May;16(5):612-8. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivs549. Epub 2013 Jan 29.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of different nutritional screening tools in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, with regard to adverse clinical outcome.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analysed 1193 adult patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were screened using five nutritional screening tools: Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ). In-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, length of stay in intensive care unit and length of hospitalization were analysed. Multivariate backward logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent predictive value of the studied screening tools.

Results: In accordance with univariate analysis, malnutrition detected by SNAQ, MUST, NRS-2002 and MNA was associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3-2.4; OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6; OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.9 and OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6). Malnutrition detected by MUST, NRS-2002, MNA and SGA was associated with intensive care unit stay >2 days (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1; OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.7; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.2 and OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6-4.6). Prolonged hospitalization (>20 days) was predicted by SNAQ, MUST and MNA (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1-1.9; OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2 and OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2). In accordance with multivariate analysis, only MUST and MNA independently predicted postoperative complications (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3 and OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2). Other independent factors influencing postoperative complications were well-known logistic EuroSCORE (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1-1.1) and the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass in minutes (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1-1.01).

Conclusions: MUST and MNA both have independent predictive values with regard to postoperative complications. Taking into account simplicity, MUST is preferable for the cardiac surgical population.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / mortality
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass* / adverse effects
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass* / mortality
  • Elective Surgical Procedures
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Length of Stay
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / complications
  • Malnutrition / diagnosis*
  • Malnutrition / mortality
  • Malnutrition / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nutrition Assessment*
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Preoperative Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome