Hand Grip Strength Test and Prognostic Nutritional Index as Predictors of Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35790/yvfn7408Keywords:
colorectal surgery; handgrip strength test; prognostic nutritional indexAbstract
Abstract: Ability to identify patients at risk of extended hospital stays before surgery is crucial so interventions can be made to reduce morbidity and complication rates leading to a shorter length of stay (LOS) postoperatively. Handgrip strength test (HGS) is considered to represent overall muscle strength and as a predictor of overall body strength. Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is used to assess nutritional and immune status and has the ability to accurately predict complications and assess the prognosis of postoperative in malignancy. This study aimed to determine whether HGS and PNI could predict LOS in colorectal cancer patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Correlations between HGS and LOS and PNI and LOS were analyzed using non-parametric regression with Spearman Rank while correlation between HGS and PNI was analyzed using the Pearson correlation test. The results obtained 30 patients consisting of 19 males and 11 females (mean age 54.9 ± 8.9 years). The mean LOS after surgery was 8.10±3.13 days. A statistically significant negative correlation between HGS and LOS was found (r =-0.414, p=0.023), indicating that the lower the HGS, the longer the LOS. The relationship between PNI and LOS also showed a statistically significant negative correlation (r=-0.481, p=0.007), indicating that higher PNI was associated with shorter LOS. Correlation between HGS and PNI showed positive but weak (r=0.290, p=0.120) with a confidence interval of -0.078–0.589. In conclusion, HGS and PNI are significantly associated with the patient’s LOS and can be used as predictors of the duration of LOS in post-colorectal surgery patients. Both can help health practitioners to assess patients with a potential risk of extended hospital stays before colorectal surgery so interventions can be made to reduce morbidity and complication rates leading to a shorter length of stay postoperatively.
Keywords: colorectal surgery; handgrip strength test; prognostic nutritional index
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