Nutritional assessment in acute stroke patients: A systematic review of guidelines and systematic reviews

INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia and malnutrition are major contributors to mortality in patients with acute stroke. An early assessment of nutritional status upon hospital admission is crucial to enhance clinical outcomes by reducing the associated high-risk complications. However, the fragmented nature of the existing literature makes it difficult to optimize clinical practices. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the best clinical practices that nurses and other healthcare professionals can employ for the immediate assessment of nutritional risk in patients diagnosed with acute stroke. DESIGN: Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews. DATA SOURCES: Comprehensive bibliographic searches were conducted up to May 2024 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines across the databases Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus, and three recognized guideline repositories. REVIEW METHODS: The quality of clinical practice guidelines was ascertained using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument, and the quality of systematic reviews was assessed through A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2). The evidence quality was appraised based on the classifications by the European Society of Cardiology. RESULTS: Out of 2534 identified records, 15 were incorporated into this review. Predominantly, the selected clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews exhibited high methodological quality. Notably, the Gugging Swallowing Screen and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool were pinpointed as primary tools for initial screenings. Most studies recommended that these assessments, ideally conducted within the first 24 h of patient admission, should be carried out by specially trained professionals, highlighting the pivotal role of nurses. Deviations in screening outcomes necessitate complementary specialist evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review offers a consolidation of current insights, proposing an innovative and integrated approach to assess nutritional needs of high-risk patients. It underscores the importance of nurses in the screening process, emphasizing their pivotal role in the nutritional management of patients with acute stroke, and advocates for further research endeavors to standardize intervention protocols to elevate patient clinical outcomes. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42023425140.