To clarify the association between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and the risk of postoperative delirium (POD) in surgical patients, particularly in older adults.
Key Findings:
Low GNRI is associated with a significantly increased risk of POD (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.34–1.96) across 12 studies involving 12,332 patients.
Stronger association found in patients aged > 74 years and those with GNRI cutoffs < 98.
Weaker association in studies using multivariate analyses compared to univariate analyses.
Interpretation:
Preoperative nutritional assessment using GNRI may help identify surgical patients at higher risk for developing POD, potentially guiding preventive strategies.
Limitations:
Heterogeneity among studies due to differences in design, patient characteristics, and GNRI cutoff values.
Potential publication bias indicated by funnel plot asymmetry, along with confounding factors that may not have been fully addressed.
Conclusion:
Low GNRI is linked to increased risk of POD, highlighting the importance of nutritional assessment in surgical patients to mitigate this risk.
