Table 1

Summary of preoperative nutritional assessments

Nutritional assessmentRequires blood biochemical parameter testPerson performing assessmentMode of assessmentEfficiency of assessmentAccounts for weight loss and/ or BMIRequires physical assessmentAccounts for dietary intakeAccounts for medical condition/ severity of the diseaseAccounts for functional capacity
SGANoTrained health care professional*Form (detailed questionnaire)EfficientWeight lossYesYesYesYes
PG-SGANoTrained health care professional* and patientForm (2-part detailed questionnaire)EfficientWeight lossYesYesYesYes
PNISerum albumin + lymphocyte countPhysician, dietitian, or nurseEquationQuick but requires laboratory parameterNoNoNoNoNo
NRISerum albuminPhysician, dietitian, or nurseEquationQuick but requires laboratory parameterWeight lossNoNoNoNo
MUSTNoPhysician, dietitian or nurseForm (scored questionnaire)Very efficientBothNoYesYesNo
NRS-2002NoPhysician, dietitian, or nurseForm (scored questionnaire)Very efficientBothNoYesYesNo
NRSNoPhysician, dietitian, or nurseForm (scored questionnaire)Very efficientBothNoYesYesNo
Serum albuminYesPhysician, dietitian, or nurseLaboratory parameterQuick but requires laboratory parameterNoNoNoNoNo
PrealbuminYesPhysician, dietitian, or nurseLaboratory parameterQuick but requires laboratory parameterNoNoNoNoNo
  • BMI = body mass index; MUST = Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool; NRI = Nutritional Risk Index; NRS = Reilly’s Nutrition Risk Score; NRS-2002 = Nutritional Risk Screening 2002; PG-SGA = Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment; PNI = Prognostic Nutritional Index; SGA = Standard Global Assessment.

  • * Physician, dietitian, or nurse must be trained to perform assessment.