Which Objective Nutritional Index Is Better for the Prediction of Adverse Medical Events in Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery?

Predictive Value of Preoperative Nutritional Risk Index for Screw Loosening After Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Elderly Patients With Lumbar Spine Diseases

OBJECTIVE

Pedicle screw loosening is one of the common complications in elderly patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for lumbar spine disease. Malnutrition, prevalent among elderly patients, has been shown to be associated with increased complications. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) serves as a simple indicator of nutritional status. However, the relationship between malnutrition, particularly GNRI, and pedicle screw loosening has not been adequately investigated. This study aims to investigate the relationship between GNRI and pedicle screw loosening following TLIF to guide the perioperative nutritional management of patients and prevent postoperative complications.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on clinical data from patients who underwent single-level TLIF between 2014 and 2022. Data collection encompassed patient demographics, preoperative laboratory parameters, surgery-related data, perioperative radiographic data, and patient-reported outcomes were comprehensively documented. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The relationship between GNRI and pedicle screw loosening was evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 426 patients were included in the study. The rate of pedicle screw loosening rate was 16.4% at a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Patients with pedicle screw loosening exhibited significantly lower GNRI (89.0 ± 8.0 vs. 99.2 ± 9.3, p < 0.001) and volumetric bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT-vBMD) (84.2 [interquartile range (IQR) 79.6-92.2] vs. 104.0 [IQR 88.2-126.0] mg/cm3, p < 0.001) compared with those in the non-loosening group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified sex (hazard ratio [HR] 1.433, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714-2.876, p = 0.027), age (HR 1.062, 95% CI 1.014-1.113, p = 0.012), GNRI (HR 0.841, 95% CI 0.711-0.994, p = 0.043), and QCT-vBMD (HR 0.982, 95% CI 0.967-0.997, p = 0.019) as independent risk factors for screw loosening. RCS analysis showed that GNRI was negatively correlated with screw loosening (p < 0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) for the GNRI in predicting pedicle screw loosening was 0.794, with a cut-off value of 95.590 (sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity 65.2%). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis identified that the lower-level GNRI group exhibited a higher cumulative incidence of screw loosening (log-rank test, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The GNRI was an independent risk factor for postoperative screw loosening in elderly patients undergoing TLIF for lumbar spine disease. Preoperative GNRI may potentially serve as a valuable tool in predicting postoperative screw loosening in elderly patients undergoing TLIF.

Do nutritional assessment tools (PNI, CONUT, GNRI) predict adverse events after spinal surgeries? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nutritional assessment tools are used to predict outcomes in cancer. However, their utility in patients undergoing spinal surgery is unclear. This review examined if prognostic nutritional index (PNI), controlling nutritional status (CONUT), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) can predict adverse events after spinal surgeries.

METHODS

PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Embase were screened by two reviewers for relevant studies up to 26th January 2024. The primary outcome of interest was total adverse events after spinal surgery. Secondary outcomes were surgical site infections (SSI) and mortality.

RESULTS

14 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that while reduced PNI was not associated with an increased risk of SSI there was a significant association between PNI and higher risk of adverse events. Meta-analysis showed that high CONUT was not associated with an increased risk of complications after spinal surgeries. Pooled analysis showed that low GNRI was associated with an increased risk of both SSI and adverse events. Data on mortality was scarce.

CONCLUSIONS

The PNI and GNRI can predict adverse outcomes after spinal surgeries. Limited data shows that high CONUT is also associated with a non-significant increased risk of adverse outcomes. High GNRI was predictive of an increased risk of SSI. Data on mortality is too scarce for strong conclusions.

Preoperative nutritional status and postoperative health outcomes in older adults undergoing spine surgery: Electronic health records analysis

AIM

To examine whether a high nutritional risk status, assessed via the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), is independently associated with postoperative health outcomes, including unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, infectious complications, and prolonged length of stay in older patients undergoing spine surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective descriptive study analyzing electronic health records from a tertiary hospital, including data from 1,014 patients aged ≥70 undergoing elective spine surgery between February 2013 and March 2023.

RESULTS

High nutritional risk patients had significantly higher odds of unplanned ICU admission, infectious complications, and prolonged length of stay compared to low-risk patients. For each one-point increase in GNRI, there was a significant 0.91- and 0.95-fold decrease in the odds of unplanned ICU admission and infectious complications, respectively.

CONCLUSION

GNRI screening in older patients before spine surgery may have potential to identify those at elevated risk for postoperative adverse outcomes.

Preoperative geriatric nutritional risk index is useful factor for predicting postoperative delirium among elderly patients with degenerative lumbar diseases

PURPOSE

It is the first study to evaluate the predictive value of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) on postoperative delirium (POD) after transforaminal lumber interbody fusion (TLIF) in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar diseases.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted to assess the outcomes of TLIF surgery in elderly patients with lumbar degenerative disease between the years 2016 and 2022. Delirium was diagnosed by reviewing postoperative medical records during hospitalization, utilizing the Confusion Assessment Method. The geriatric nutritional risk index was calculated using the baseline serum albumin level and body weight. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the association between preoperative GNRI and postoperative delirium (POD). Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to determine the optimal GNRI cutoff for predicting POD.

RESULTS

POD was observed in 50 of the 324 patients. The GNRI was visibly reduced in the delirium group. The mean GNRI was 93.0 ± 9.1 in non-delirium group and 101.2 ± 8.2 in delirium group. On multivariate logistic regression, Risk of POD increases significantly with low GNRI and was an independent factor in predicting POD following TLIF (OR 0.714; 95% CI 0.540-0.944; p = 0.018). On receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under curve (AUC) for GNRI was 0.738 (95% CI 0.660-0.817). The cutoff value for GNRI according to the Youden index was 96.370 (sensitivity: 66.0%, specificity: 70.4%).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that lower GNRI correlated significantly with POD after TLIF. Performing GNRI evaluation prior to TLIF may be an effective approach of predicting the risk for POD among elderly patients with degenerative lumbar diseases.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts postoperative delirium in aged patients after surgery: A matched cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is an indicator to evaluate the nutritional immune status of patients. This study aimed to assess whether preoperative PNI could predict the occurrence of postoperative POD in aged patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery.

METHOD

The aged patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery between January 2014 and August 2019 were included in the retrospective cohort study. The correlation between POD and PNI was investigated by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

In the cohort (n = 29,814), the cutoff value of PNI was 46.01 determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In univariate and three multivariable regression analysis, the ORs of PNI ≤ 46.01 was 2.573(95% CI:2.261-2.929, P < 0.001),1.802 (95% CI:1.567-2.071, P < 0.001),1.463(95% CI:1.246-1.718, P < 0.001),1.370(95% CI:1.165-1.611, P < 0.001). In the PSM model and IPTW model, the ORs of PNI ≤ 46.01 were 1.424(95% CI:1.172-1.734, P < 0.001) and 1.356(95% CI:1.223-1.505, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The PNI was found to have a predictive value for POD in patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery. Improving preoperative nutritional status may be beneficial in preventing POD for aged patients.

Inflammatory and nutritional markers predict the risk of post-operative delirium in elderly patients following total hip arthroplasty

Objectives

This study intended to explore whether albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers could predict post-operative delirium (POD) in older patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). In addition, we established a nomogram model for POD prediction.

Methods

Totally, 254 elderly cases who received THA were included. Clinical and laboratory data of these patients were retrospectively collected. Albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers included neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and systemic inflammation score (SIS). The LASSO, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to screen risk factors. A nomogram model was developed according to the results of multivariate regression analyses.

Results

Among 254 patients, 49 cases had POD with an incidence of 19.3%. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic analyses suggested that preoperative NAR, preoperative PNI, preoperative SIS, and age >75 years were risk factors for POD. A nomogram model was developed according to the results of multivariate logistic analyses. The calibration curve suggested that the predicted probability of this nomogram model was in good line with the actual probability. The DCA showed that this nomogram model had net benefits for the prediction of POD for elderly patients following THA.

Conclusion

Albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers including NAR, PNI, and SIS could predict POD in elderly patients following THA.

Association between nutritional status scores and the 30-day mortality in patients with acute kidney injury: an analysis of MIMIC-III database

BACKGROUND

Studies have proven that the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) increased in patients with malnutrition. Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) were general tools to predict the risk of mortality, but the prognostic value of them for in-hospital mortality among patients with AKI have not been validated yet. Herein, this study aims to explore the association between PNI and GNRI and 30-day mortality in patients with AKI.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical data of 863 adult patients with AKI were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database in 2001-2012 in this retrospective cohort study. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression analyses were used to explore the association between PNI and GNRI and 30-day mortality. The evaluation indexes were hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses of age, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and Simplified Acute Physiology (SAPS-II) score were also performed.

RESULTS

Totally, 222 (26.71%) patients died within 30 days. After adjusting for covariates, PNI ≥ 28.5 [HR = 0.71, 95%CI: (0.51-0.98)] and GNRI ≥ 83.25 [HR = 0.63, 95%CI: (0.47-0.86)] were both associated with low risk of 30-day mortality. These relationships were also found in patients who aged ≥ 65 years old. Differently, high PNI level was associated with low risk of 30-day mortality among patients with SOFA score < 6 or SAPS-II score < 43, while high GNRI was associated with low risk of 30-day mortality among those who with SOFA score ≥ 6 or SAPS-II score ≥ 43 (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PNI and GNRI may be potential predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with AKI. Whether the PNI is more recommended for patients with mild AKI, while GNRI for those with severe AKI is needed further exploration.

The Impact of Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score on functional prognosis in hospitalized elderly patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures

BACKGROUND

Nutritional status, which is associated with osteoporosis and muscle weakness is considered an important factor in the management of acute osteoporotic vertebral fracture (AOVF). However, few reports have investigated the nutritional status of hospitalized patients with AOVF and the impact of malnutrition on their functional prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized elderly patients with AOVF using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and to determine the usefulness of the CONUT score in predicting their functional prognosis.

METHODS

The CONUT score on admission was retrospectively calculated for 134 hospitalized elderly patients (mean age 83 ± 7.6 years, 66% female) with AOVF who received conservative treatment between 2017 and 2020. Functional outcome was assessed by comparing ambulatory ability before the onset of AOVF and upon discharge. Patients were divided into two groups: CONUT-high ( ≥ 4) and CONUT-low ( ≤ 3), according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to predict decline in ambulatory ability upon discharge. Logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the relationships between the nutritional status and ambulatory ability. The discriminative power of the CONUT score was then compared with other nutritional assessment tools such as the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) by ROC analysis.

RESULTS

81% of hospitalized patients with an AOVF were malnourished at the time of admission. The CONUT-high group had a significantly higher rate of decline in ambulatory ability (P < 0.001) than the CONUT-low group. Logistic regression analysis revealed the CONUT score ( ≥ 4) as an independent risk factor for a decline in ambulatory ability (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.61-7.37, P = 0.0014). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the CONUT score (AUC = 0.724) was significantly greater than that for the GNRI (AUC = 0.624, P = 0.021) and PNI (AUC = 0.636, P = 0.0008).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that 81% of hospitalized elderly patients with AOVFs were malnourished and that the CONUT score was a useful predictive factor of functional prognosis.

Implications of Malnutrition on Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Young and Old Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort

Background

The relationship between malnutrition and the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and the resulting prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still not well known.

Methods

Patients undergoing PCI were consecutively enrolled in a multicenter study in China (NCT01402232), categorized by nutritional status (non-malnutrition, malnutrition) based on two different cut-off values (i.e., traditional threshold and the best cut-off value based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve) for the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score. The primary endpoint was CA-AKI, diagnosed as a rise in serum creatinine &gt;0.3 mg/dl or &gt;50% than the baseline level occurring within 48 h after the intervention. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The relationships of malnutrition, CA-AKI, and all-cause mortality were examined using multivariate-adjusted logistic and Cox regression analyses, respectively.

Results

Among 2,083 patients undergoing PCI (age: 62.8 ± 11.1 years; 79.0% men), 1,258 (60.4%) were malnourished. During hospitalization, 80 (3.8%) patients developed CA-AKI events. The incidence of CA-AKI in patients who did not have malnutrition (the non-malnutrition group) and those who did have malnutrition (the malnutrition group) was 1.7% and 5.25%, respectively. Patients with malnutrition had a 2-fold increased adjusted risk of CA-AKI compared to those with no malnutrition [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% confidence interval CI): 2.41 (1.22 to 5.22)]. Malnutrition was associated with a 3-fold increased adjusted risk of CA-AKI in patients aged ≤ 75 years [N = 1,791, aOR (95% CI): 3.39 (1.46–9.25)]. Malnourished patients with CA-AKI had a higher risk of all-cause mortality than the others. Similar results were observed in the grouping of Supplemental Analyses based on the optimal cut-off value of the CONUT score identified by the ROC curve.

Conclusions

Malnutrition is strongly associated with an increased risk of CA-AKI in both young and old patients undergoing PCI. Malnourished patients with CA-AKI had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to prospectively assess the efficacy of nutritional interventions on outcomes in patients undergoing PCI.

Influence of nutritional status on the clinical outcome of patients with chronic subdural hematoma: a prospective multicenter clinical study

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients present a higher risk of developing chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) together with increased risk of malnutrition. The nutritional status may affect outcomes, response to treatments, and prognosis. Influence on other kinds of diseases was investigated showing an increased risk of mortality, morbidity, and adverse outcomes. However, no studies are available on its possible role for the outcome of patients with CSDH. This study aims to evaluate a possible relationship between the nutritional status and the clinical outcome of patients who underwent CSDH surgery.

METHODS

This is a multicenter prospective study enrolling all patients treated for CSDH. Demographic and clinical data were collected. For nutritional status evaluation, we used the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Chi-square test was used for comparing clinical variables of patients and logistic regression analysis was used for defining the impact of the aforementioned variables on the clinical outcome.

RESULTS

We enrolled 178 patients. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) was 0-2 pre-operatively in 23.6% of patients and post-operatively in 61.2% of patients. Total assessment MNA score was >23.5 in 47.8% of patients. Ninety-three patients (52.2%) presented a normal nutritional status, 63 (35.4%) were at risk of malnutrition and 22 (12.4%) were malnourished. The mean follow-up was 2.6 months. Malnourished patients were at higher risk of a worse outcome (OR 81; CI = 9-750).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that nutritional status represents a strong predictor of outcome. Our results, albeit preliminary, demonstrated malnutrition is correlated to the risk of worse clinical outcome for patients undergoing surgery for chronic subdural hematoma. Further investigations with wider casuistry and multiple nutritional scores are required to validate our data.