Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and In-Hospital Mortality and Costs in Older Inpatients With and Without Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study.
Lujiao Huang, Xue Zhou, Yi Song and 6 others
PMID 40033381WHAT IT FOUND
Older inpatients with major nutritional risk had higher estimated in-hospital mortality and costs, especially cancer patients.
GNRI may help nurses flag high-risk admissions, but this observational study cannot show screening improved outcomes.
Key findings
01After adjustment, higher GNRI-assessed nutritional risk was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and hospital costs.
02Patients with major nutritional risk had estimated mortality of 5.5% and costs of 42,739 CNY, compared with 0.6% and 26,606 CNY for no risk.
03The estimates were higher in cancer patients: major nutritional risk had estimated mortality of 12.3% and costs of 65,670 CNY, compared with 5.1% and 41,379 CNY in non-cancer patients.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was retrospective and observational, so it cannot show that GNRI screening or nutritional care caused lower mortality or costs. It was done in one comprehensive hospital and affiliated hospitals, so results may not apply to other settings or populations. It used admission measurements and did not account for changes in nutritional risk or clinical variables during hospital stay. Some factors that affect outcomes, such as comorbidities, treatment protocols and healthcare access, may not have been fully captured.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not identify a study funder.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that using GNRI will reduce in-hospital mortality or costs. The study is retrospective and observational, so it shows association only, not that measuring GNRI or providing nutrition care caused better outcomes.