Determination of nutritional status using malnutrition screening tests and selected biochemical parameters in hospitalized burn patients

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional status of hospitalized burn patients using malnutrition screening tests and selected biochemical parameters. The research included 81 patients aged 18–65 who were hospitalized in the Burn Unit of Gaziantep City Hospital. Patients' burn characteristics and anthropometric measurements were collected using an information form, while biochemical data, malnutrition screening test results, and dietary intake records were obtained by the researcher to assess nutritional status. Among the participants, 65.4% (n = 53) were male and 34.6% (n = 28) were female. The mean age of the patients was 40.88 ± 16.83 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.39 ± 5.05 kg/m²(17,9-41,62). The average total burn surface area was 12.25 ± 6.25%, and 97.5% of the patients had second-degree burns. The most common types of burns were flame burns (40.7%), scald burns (25.9%), and electrical burns (14.8%). Total energy requirements were calculated using the Harris–Benedict, Schofield, Curreri, Sutherland, Toronto, and Xie equations. The Curreri equation produced the highest energy estimation (3474.81 ± 638.24 kcal), while the Toronto equation yielded the lowest (1667.04 ± 284.29 kcal). To evaluate nutritional status, the mean scores were 0.44 ± 0.79 for NRS-2002, 0.41 ± 0.62 for MUST, and 0.02 ± 0.86 for NSTB. No significant differences were found between males and females in terms of nutritional screening results (p > 0.05). Additionally, biochemical parameters—including albumin, total protein, urea, LDH, ALP, bilirubin, fasting glucose, and cholesterol—did not differ significantly between genders (p > 0.01).Accurate and reliable malnutrition screening is essential for determining nutritional status and planning appropriate nutrition therapy in burn patients. Developing individualized, adequate, and balanced nutrition programs based on burn severity and patient needs is of great importance for effective clinical management.