Perfil clínico-antropométrico de pacientes hospitalizados para cirurgias eletivas: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Elective surgeries, being planned procedures, provide an opportunity for prior nutritional assessment and intervention, reducing risks and promoting postoperative recovery. Factors such as age, sex, type of procedure, and presence of comorbidities influence surgical prognosis and are closely related to nutritional status. Objective: To assess the clinical profile and nutritional characteristics of patients admitted to a regional hospital in Guarapuava (PR), Brazil, for elective surgeries. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study based on the analysis of secondary data. Variables evaluated included sex, age, type of surgery, comorbidities, functional capacity, Body Mass Index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), calf circumference (CC), and nutritional risk screening (NRS) classification. Results: The sample consisted 122 patients, predominantly of older adults (55.74%) and women (51.63%). Arthroplasties were the most frequent procedures (36.88%), followed by ureterolithotripsies (28.68%). The most prevalent comorbidities were systemic arterial hypertension (64.75%) and diabetes mellitus (22.13%). A high prevalence of overweight (68.85%) was observed, especially among women (79.36%). AC indicated adequate weight in 50% of patients, while CC revealed muscle depletion in 69.66%, being more pronounced among older adults (80.88%). Analyses showed a significant association between sex and nutritional status (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Patients undergoing elective surgeries presented a profile characterized by a high prevalence of overweight and chronic comorbidities, in addition to evidence of muscle depletion, particularly among older adults. These factors increase perioperative risk and may impair surgical recovery.