Preoperative Nutritional Status and Its Effect on Surgical Outcomes and Public Health in General Surgery: An Evaluation of Postoperative Impact

Background: Malnutrition is linked to more postoperative problems, a longer recovery period, and a higher death rate; preoperative nutritional condition is a critical factor in surgical outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative nutritional status on surgical outcomes in general surgery patients and explore its broader public health implications. Methodology: A two-year observational research with 250 adult patients undergoing general surgery was carried out between January 2022 and December 2023. Based on preoperative nutritional tests, such as Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002), Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood albumin levels, participants were divided into two groups: nutritionally sufficient and nutritionally compromised. Postoperative problems, such as infections, wound healing, duration of hospital stay, readmissions, and 30-day mortality, were examined in the data. Results: Nutritionally compromised patients exhibited significantly worse outcomes, including higher rates of postoperative infections (74 out of 125, 59.4% vs. 28 out of 125, 22.4%), delayed wound healing (29 outof 125, 23.3% vs. 11 out of 125, 8.8%), increased readmission rates (22 out of 125, 17.6% vs.6 out of 125, 4.8%), and higher 30-day mortality (14 out of 125, 11.2% vs. 3 out of 125, 2.4%) compared to the nutritionally adequate group. Long-term follow-up showed persistent differences in infection rates and wound healing, supporting the prolonged impact of poor nutritional status. Conclusion: Preoperative malnutrition significantly affects surgical outcomes, emphasizing the importance of nutritional optimization in preoperative care to enhance recovery and minimize complications.