Editorial. Malnutrition in hospitals
Editorial. Malnutrition in hospitals
Malnutrition is a common cause and consequence of illness, particularly in older people. The number of malnourished people leaving NHS hospitals in England has risen by 85% over the past 10 years. It is still rising and reached almost 140 000 in 2006-7.1 Surveys elsewhere consistently find that about 20% of patients in general hospitals are malnourished (body mass index <18.5 (the World Health Organization 1995 cut off for malnutrition), or thin and losing weight, or both). Figures are higher if specific nutrient deficiencies or functional indications of malnutrition are included.
Despite the frequency of malnutrition, it is undiagnosed in up to 70% of patients. This is partly because of the lack of simple laboratory tests, and because biochemical tests for nutritional status are difficult to interpret, particularly as they are often influenced by acute phase responses to inflammation in sick patients.
Lean, Mike
63035022-6d7f-476d-9f0e-f95b2ff31e7c
Wiseman, Martin
d0ea203b-11e7-4e81-97dd-f3eefe10ab8e
9 February 2008
Lean, Mike
63035022-6d7f-476d-9f0e-f95b2ff31e7c
Wiseman, Martin
d0ea203b-11e7-4e81-97dd-f3eefe10ab8e
Abstract
Malnutrition is a common cause and consequence of illness, particularly in older people. The number of malnourished people leaving NHS hospitals in England has risen by 85% over the past 10 years. It is still rising and reached almost 140 000 in 2006-7.1 Surveys elsewhere consistently find that about 20% of patients in general hospitals are malnourished (body mass index <18.5 (the World Health Organization 1995 cut off for malnutrition), or thin and losing weight, or both). Figures are higher if specific nutrient deficiencies or functional indications of malnutrition are included.
Despite the frequency of malnutrition, it is undiagnosed in up to 70% of patients. This is partly because of the lack of simple laboratory tests, and because biochemical tests for nutritional status are difficult to interpret, particularly as they are often influenced by acute phase responses to inflammation in sick patients.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 9 February 2008
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 80045
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/80045
ISSN: 0959-8138
PURE UUID: 5152bc44-06bf-4a33-8112-71fb8bd70ffc
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 23 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 00:34
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Mike Lean
Author:
Martin Wiseman
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics