Nutritional status has a major impact on the outcomes of surgical procedures in abdominal surgery. Obesity or malnutrition of patients with reduced muscle mass can seriously jeopardize the success of surgical treatment. In addition, the nutritional status gives an insight into the patient's condition, it indicates whether the patient is at risk of malnutrition or not. The most important is to assess the nutritional status immediately upon arrival at the hospital because it allows you to detect and recognize malnutrition in time and to assess the risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition of patients who are scheduled for surgery should be taken care of in time to avoid possible complications. In oncology patients, it is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of cachexia. The term cachexia indicates increased weight loss, loss of fat and muscle tissue, weakness and anorexia. In such patients, the nutritional status is poor and the loss of body muscle mass is increased. Cachexia cannot be stopped with standard nutritional support. This study was performed in order to assess the nutritional status of patients who were hospitalized at the Department of Abdominal Surgery of the Varaždin General Hospital. Data collection was performed using the NRS 2002 questionnaire (Nutrition Risk Screening 2002) completed by patients hospitalized at the Department of Abdominal Surgery of the Varaždin General Hospital in a period of one month, from August 1st to August 25th 2020. A total of 23 patients were examined. Based on the obtained data, 6 (26.2%) patients had a severe risk for malnutrition, 12 (52.1%) patients had a mild risk and 5 (21.7%) patients had no risk at all. Patients who were at increased risk of malnutrition suffered from malignant diseases. Assessment of nutritional status is very important upon arrival at the hospital. Especially in patients suffering from malignant diseases and in elderly patients. Patients who are at mild but also those at severe risk are assessed more often, precisely to prevent malnutrition, which has a major impact on the outcome of a surgery and possible complications (infections, slow wound healing, etc.).