[Digestive neoplasia, low body mass index and weight loss as indicators of the length of hospital stay in patients with neoplasia].

BACKGROUND The nutritional status (NS) of patients with neoplasms can affect length of hospital stay. AIM To investigated nutritional changes and risk factors associated with length of hospital stay in patients with neoplasms. METHODS A cross-sectional study was done to investigate nutritional status by classic anthropometry, energy intake, gastrointestinal changes, indicators of nutritional risk and length of hospital stay in 93 patients with neoplasms. The risk factors associated with long hospital stays were then determined. RESULTS Patients with digestive neoplasms presented significantly longer hospital stays. These patients were 26 times more likely to stay at the hospital seven or more days than patients with gynecological neoplasms. Additionally, patients with recent weight loss were 4.5 times more likely to stay seven or more days at the hospital than those without recent weight loss. CONCLUSION Digestive neoplasms, low body mass index and recent weight loss are risk factors for longer hospital stays.