Aims: To describe the nutritional status of patients prior to gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 patients prior to gastrointestinal surgery at Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital. The  nutritional status of the patients were assessed using body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), biochemical index and risk assessment of malnutrition according to the subjective global assessment (SGA).

Results: The rates of chronic energy deficiency, low MUAC, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia were 17.8, 23.3, 26.1, and 51.8%, respectively. By SGA method, the patients had a 55.6% risk of malnutrition (34.5% moderate and 21.1% severe malnutrition). The rate of unwanted weight loss >10% was 26.7%. About 30% of the patients had a combination of three or more nutritional conditions. The combination between low-albumin and anemia accounted for 38.4%.

Conclusion: The study indicates an alarmingly high rate of malnutrition status and anemia before gastrointestinal operation, as well as elevated risk of developing malnutrition during hospitalization.

Aims: To describe the nutritional status of patients prior to gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 patients prior to gastrointestinal surgery at Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital. The  nutritional status of the patients were assessed using body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), biochemical index and risk assessment of malnutrition according to the subjective global assessment (SGA).

Results: The rates of chronic energy deficiency, low MUAC, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia were 17.8, 23.3, 26.1, and 51.8%, respectively. By SGA method, the patients had a 55.6% risk of malnutrition (34.5% moderate and 21.1% severe malnutrition). The rate of unwanted weight loss >10% was 26.7%. About 30% of the patients had a combination of three or more nutritional conditions. The combination between low-albumin and anemia accounted for 38.4%.

Conclusion: The study indicates an alarmingly high rate of malnutrition status and anemia before gastrointestinal operation, as well as elevated risk of developing malnutrition during hospitalization.