ALB and protein-energy malnutrition: Low albumin levels and low lymphocytes count are directly related to longer hospital stays, and therefore the alteration of these markers causes a further deterioration of the nutritional status, thus promoting a cycle of malnutrition-infection leading to the onset of protein-energy malnutrition, a self-perpetuating process with a strong influence on patient outcomes (poor wound healing, loss of muscle strength, decreased mobility, increased risk of thromboembolic complications [27, 28]), length of stay and associated costs [29, 30].