Preoperative Hypocholesterolaemia and Hypoalbuminemia as Predictors of Surgical Site Infections in Elective Abdominal Surgeries: A Prospective Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64149/J.Carcinog.24.4s.839-846Keywords:
Hypocholesterolaemia, Hypoalbuminemia, Surgical Site Infection, Abdominal Surgery, Malnutrition, Cholesterol, Albumin, Preoperative Assessment, SSI Prevention, Nutritional Risk ScreeningAbstract
Background: Hypocholesterolaemia, defined as total cholesterol and LDL-C levels below the 5th percentile for age, sex, and race, and hypoalbuminemia, defined as serum albumin below 3.5 g/dL, have been associated with impaired immune response and delayed wound healing. Recent studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between these biochemical markers and postoperative surgical site infections (SSI), particularly among patients undergoing abdominal surgeries.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative hypocholesterolaemia, hypoalbuminemia, and the incidence of SSI in elective abdominal surgeries and to identify predictive markers for postoperative complications.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months on 66 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgeries at JSS Hospital, Mysuru. Preoperative serum cholesterol and albumin levels were measured and categorized into hypo-, hyper-, or normo-cholesterolaemia and hypo-, hyper-, or normo-albuminemia. Patients were monitored daily until discharge for signs of SSI, including erythema, pain, swelling, and pus discharge. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between biochemical parameters, SSI incidence, hospital stay duration, and demographic variables.
Results: The incidence of SSI was significantly higher among patients with hypocholesterolaemia (79.3%) compared to those with normal cholesterol levels (20.7%, p<0.05). Similarly, hypoalbuminemia was associated with an increased risk of SSI (79% versus 21%, p<0.05). Prolonged hospital stays, advanced age, and higher BMI were also significantly associated with the development of SSI.
Conclusion: Preoperative hypocholesterolaemia and hypoalbuminemia are strong predictors of postoperative SSI and longer hospital stays. Routine screening for these parameters, along with the assessment of BMI and age, may facilitate early identification of high-risk patients and enable targeted nutritional interventions to improve surgical outcomes and reduce SSI-related complications.
