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International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2011Malnutrition is a debilitating and highly prevalent condition in the acute hospital setting, with Australian and international studies reporting rates of approximately... (Review)
Review
Malnutrition is a debilitating and highly prevalent condition in the acute hospital setting, with Australian and international studies reporting rates of approximately 40%. Malnutrition is associated with many adverse outcomes including depression of the immune system, impaired wound healing, muscle wasting, longer lengths of hospital stay, higher treatment costs and increased mortality. Referral rates for dietetic assessment and treatment of malnourished patients have proven to be suboptimal, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing such aforementioned complications. Nutrition risk screening using a validated tool is a simple technique to rapidly identify patients at risk of malnutrition, and provides a basis for prompt dietetic referrals. In Australia, nutrition screening upon hospital admission is not mandatory, which is of concern knowing that malnutrition remains under-reported and often poorly documented. Unidentified malnutrition not only heightens the risk of adverse complications for patients, but can potentially result in foregone reimbursements to the hospital through casemix-based funding schemes. It is strongly recommended that mandatory nutrition screening be widely adopted in line with published best-practice guidelines to effectively target and reduce the incidence of hospital malnutrition.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Hospitals; Humans; Malnutrition; Mass Screening; Prevalence
PubMed: 21556200
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph8020514 -
Clinical Drug Investigation Jun 2022Malnutrition is common in chronic liver diseases and worsens the patient's prognosis. Many liver disorders are associated with nutritional deficiencies. Some of the main... (Review)
Review
Malnutrition is common in chronic liver diseases and worsens the patient's prognosis. Many liver disorders are associated with nutritional deficiencies. Some of the main factors that can lead to malnutrition in patients with chronic liver disease include decreased lipid absorption and reduced albumin production. In addition, these patients are sometimes candidates for a liver transplant that requires nutritional intervention after surgery to improve their prognosis. Thus, it is very important to recognise malnutrition in patients with liver failure in order to resolve it, mainly by a complete history of the patient, dietary survey, determination of muscle mass and a subjective assessment. To ensure a good nutritional status, exercise and lifestyle changes are considered, including dietary modifications, especially with a Mediterranean pattern. This article reviews these topics, including dietary modifications before and after liver transplantation. Additionally, nutritional recommendations are offered to patients with metabolic hepatic steatosis.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Humans; Liver Diseases; Liver Transplantation; Malnutrition; Nutritional Status; Prognosis
PubMed: 35484325
DOI: 10.1007/s40261-022-01141-x -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Feb 2023Refeeding syndrome (RFS) can occur in malnourished patients when normal, enteral, or parenteral feeding is resumed. The syndrome often goes unrecognized and may, in the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Refeeding syndrome (RFS) can occur in malnourished patients when normal, enteral, or parenteral feeding is resumed. The syndrome often goes unrecognized and may, in the most severe cases, result in death. The diagnosis of RFS can be crucially facilitated by the use of clinical decision support systems (CDSS).
METHODS
The literature in PubMed was searched for current treatment recommendations, randomized intervention studies, and publications on RFS and CDSS. We also took account of insights gained from the development and implementation of our own CDSS for the diagnosis of RFS.
RESULTS
The identification of high-risk patients and the recognition of manifest RFS is clinically challenging due to the syndrome's unspecific symptoms and physicians' lack of awareness of the risk of this condition. The literature shows that compared to patients without RFS, malnourished patients with RFS have significantly greater 6-month mortality (odds ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval: [1.04; 2.28]) and an elevated risk of admission to intensive care (odds ratio 2.71 [1.01; 7.27]). In a prospective testing program, use of our own CDSS led to correct diagnosis in two thirds of cases.
CONCLUSION
RFS is difficult to detect and represents a high risk to the patients affected. Appropriate CDSS can identify such patients and ensure proper professional care.
Topics: Humans; Hospitalization; Malnutrition; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Refeeding Syndrome
PubMed: 36482748
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0381 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger May 2017The prevalence of malnutrition has declined significantly over the last 30 years. Despite this, malnutrition remains a major cause of illness and death among children... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of malnutrition has declined significantly over the last 30 years. Despite this, malnutrition remains a major cause of illness and death among children worldwide, particularly in low- and medium-income countries. Marasmus and kwashiorkor are the most life-threatening forms of malnutrition. Treatment protocols enable effective treatment, but only a minority of malnourished children have access to treatment. Furthermore, treating children with complicated malnutrition requiring hospitalization remains a clinical challenge.
Topics: Acute Disease; Child; Child Nutrition Disorders; Humans; Infections; Kwashiorkor; Malnutrition; Protein-Energy Malnutrition
PubMed: 28504629
DOI: No ID Found -
Wounds : a Compendium of Clinical... Dec 2015Wound care is a multidisciplinary specialty requiring many physiologic and immunologic processes as well as physical, social, and societal factors to achieve successful... (Review)
Review
Wound care is a multidisciplinary specialty requiring many physiologic and immunologic processes as well as physical, social, and societal factors to achieve successful wound closure. Most wounds are treated with combinations of antimicrobials, protective barriers, and topical growth agents, including skin and biologic grafts.The role of nutrition in wound healing may be overlooked in the wound care patient. Like the specialty, it is often multifaceted, with many nutritional components playing a variety of roles in the wound healing process. Suboptimal nutrition can alter immune function, collagen synthesis, and wound tensile strength, all of which are essential in the wound healing process. It is also important to remember that not all wounds are equal: a burn is different from a diabetic foot ulcer, which is different from a pressure ulcer. Nonetheless, nutrition is a common denominator for all wound patients, and what is studied in 1 wound population is often relevant in another. Due to the complexities of monitoring and measuring both wound healing and dietary intake, randomized, controlled trials of wound care patients are difficult to conduct, and much of the data concerning nutrition in wound care relies on combined supplements. In summary, it appears that some nutrients are necessary only if deficient, whereas others may become conditionally essential and serve a therapeutic role. All of the nutrients discussed should be viewed as a component of a broader, complete diet. This article is a summary of wound healing and the roles of a variety of macronutrients and micronutrients in the process.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Humans; Malnutrition; Micronutrients; Nutritional Status; Vitamins; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 27447105
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Dec 2019Malnutrition in older adults results in significant personal, social, and economic burden. To combat this complex, multifactorial issue, evidence-based knowledge is...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Malnutrition in older adults results in significant personal, social, and economic burden. To combat this complex, multifactorial issue, evidence-based knowledge is needed on the modifiable determinants of malnutrition. Systematic reviews of prospective studies are lacking in this area; therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to investigate the modifiable determinants of malnutrition in older adults.
METHODS
A systematic approach was taken to conduct this review. Eight databases were searched. Prospective cohort studies with participants of a mean age of 65 years or over were included. Studies were required to measure at least one determinant at baseline and malnutrition as outcome at follow-up. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Pooling of data in a meta-analysis was not possible therefore the findings of each study were synthesized narratively. A descriptive synthesis of studies was used to present results due the heterogeneity of population source and setting, definitions of determinants and outcomes. Consistency of findings was assessed using the schema: strong evidence, moderate evidence, low evidence, and conflicting evidence.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies were included in the final review. Thirty potentially modifiable determinants across seven domains (oral, psychosocial, medication and care, health, physical function, lifestyle, eating) were included. The majority of studies had a high risk of bias and were of a low quality. There is moderate evidence that hospitalisation, eating dependency, poor self-perceived health, poor physical function and poor appetite are determinants of malnutrition. Moderate evidence suggests that chewing difficulties, mouth pain, gum issues co-morbidity, visual and hearing impairments, smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity levels, complaints about taste of food and specific nutrient intake are not determinants of malnutrition. There is low evidence that loss of interest in life, access to meals and wheels, and modified texture diets are determinants of malnutrition. Furthermore, there is low evidence that psychological distress, anxiety, loneliness, access to transport and wellbeing, hunger and thirst are not determinants of malnutrition. There appears to be conflicting evidence that dental status, swallowing, cognitive function, depression, residential status, medication intake and/or polypharmacy, constipation, periodontal disease are determinants of malnutrition.
CONCLUSION
There are multiple potentially modifiable determinants of malnutrition however strong robust evidence is lacking for the majority of determinants. Better prospective cohort studies are required. With an increasingly ageing population, targeting modifiable factors will be crucial to the effective treatment and prevention of malnutrition.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition; Exercise; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30685297
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.12.007 -
Journal of Cardiology Mar 2023Nutrition in the cardiovascular field to date has focused on improving lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes from the viewpoint of secondary... (Review)
Review
Nutrition in the cardiovascular field to date has focused on improving lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes from the viewpoint of secondary prevention. For these conditions, "nutrition for weight loss" is recommended, and nutritional guidance that restricts calories is provided. On the other hand, in symptomatic Stage C and D heart failure, it is known that underweight patients who manifest poor nutrition, sarcopenia, and cardiac cachexia have a poor prognosis. This is referred to as the "Obesity paradox". In order to "avoid weight loss" in patients with heart failure, a paradigm shift to nutritional management to prevent weight loss is needed. Rather than prescribing uniform recommendation for salt reduction of 6 g/day or less, awareness of the behavior change stage model is attracting attention. In this setting, the value of salt restriction will need to be determined to determine the priority level of intervention for undernutrition versus the need to prevent congestive signs and symptoms. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) for acute heart failure, nutritional intervention should be considered within 48 h of admission. Key points are selection of access route, timing of intervention, and monitoring of side effects. In nutritional management at home and in end-of-life care, food is a reflection of an individual's values, as well as a source of joy and encouragement. The importance of digestive tract should also be recognized in heart failure from oral flail to intestinal edema, constipation, and the intestinal bacteria called the heart-gut axis. Finally, we would like to propose a new term "heart nutrition" for nutritional management in patients with heart failure in this review. Compared to the evidence for exercise therapy in heart failure, studies assessing nutritional management remain scarce and there is a need for research in this area in the future.
Topics: Humans; Enteral Nutrition; Heart Failure; Malnutrition; Nutritional Status; Weight Loss
PubMed: 36370995
DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2022.11.001 -
Nutrients Aug 2022Diet and nutrition are important factors in cancer prevention and treatment because an unbalanced diet increases the risk of cancer onset, while malnutrition negatively...
Diet and nutrition are important factors in cancer prevention and treatment because an unbalanced diet increases the risk of cancer onset, while malnutrition negatively impacts the efficacy of cancer treatment [...].
Topics: Diet; Humans; Malnutrition; Neoplasms; Nutritional Status
PubMed: 36014835
DOI: 10.3390/nu14163329 -
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and... Apr 2023Anorexia/appetite loss in older subjects is frequently underrecognized in clinical practice, which may reflect deficient understanding of clinical sequelae. Therefore,... (Review)
Review
Anorexia/appetite loss in older subjects is frequently underrecognized in clinical practice, which may reflect deficient understanding of clinical sequelae. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature review to assess the morbidity and mortality burden of anorexia/appetite loss in older populations. Following PRISMA guidelines, searches were run (1 January 2011 to 31 July 2021) in PubMed, Embase® and Cochrane databases to identify English language studies of adults aged ≥ 65 years with anorexia/appetite loss. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full text of identified records against pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Population demographics were extracted alongside risk of malnutrition, mortality and other outcomes of interest. Of 146 studies that underwent full-text review, 58 met eligibility criteria. Most studies were from Europe (n = 34; 58.6%) or Asia (n = 16; 27.6%), with few (n = 3; 5.2%) from the United States. Most were conducted in a community setting (n = 35; 60.3%), 12 (20.7%) were inpatient based (hospital/rehabilitation ward), 5 (8.6%) were in institutional care (nursing/care homes) and 7 (12.1%) were in other (mixed or outpatient) settings. One study reported results separately for community and institutional settings and is counted in both settings. Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ Simplified, n = 14) and subject-reported appetite questions (n = 11) were the most common methods used to assess anorexia/appetite loss, but substantial variability in assessment tools was observed across studies. The most commonly reported outcomes were malnutrition and mortality. Malnutrition was assessed in 15 studies, with all reporting a significantly higher risk of malnutrition in older individuals with anorexia/appetite loss (vs. without) regardless of country or healthcare setting (community n = 9, inpatient n = 2, institutional n = 3, other n = 2). Of 18 longitudinal studies that assessed mortality risk, 17 (94%) reported a significant association between anorexia/appetite loss and mortality regardless of either healthcare setting (community n = 9, inpatient n = 6, institutional n = 2) or method used to assess anorexia/appetite loss. This association between anorexia/appetite loss and mortality was observed in cohorts with cancer (as expected) but was also observed in older populations with a range of comorbid conditions other than cancer. Overall, our findings demonstrate that, among individuals aged ≥ 65 years, anorexia/appetite loss is associated with increased risk of malnutrition, mortality and other negative outcomes across community, care home and hospital settings. Such associations warrant efforts to improve and standardize screening, detection, assessment and management of anorexia/appetite loss in older adults.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Anorexia; Appetite; Malnutrition; Hospitals; Europe
PubMed: 36807868
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13186 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Sep 2023Disease-related malnutrition in polymorbid medical inpatients is a highly prevalent syndrome associated with significantly increased morbidity, disability, short- and...
BACKGROUND
Disease-related malnutrition in polymorbid medical inpatients is a highly prevalent syndrome associated with significantly increased morbidity, disability, short- and long-term mortality, impaired recovery from illness, and cost of care.
AIM
As there are uncertainties in applying disease-specific guidelines to patients with multiple conditions, our aim was to provide evidence-based recommendations on nutritional support for the polymorbid patient population hospitalized in medical wards.
METHODS
This update adheres to the standard operating procedures for ESPEN guidelines. We did a systematic literature search for 15 clinical questions in three different databases (Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library), as well as in secondary sources (e.g. published guidelines), until July 12th. Retrieved abstracts were screened to identify relevant studies that were used to develop recommendations (incl. SIGN grading), which was followed by submission to Delphi voting.
RESULTS
From a total of 3527 retrieved abstracts, 60 new relevant studies were analyzed and used to generate a guideline draft that proposed 32 recommendations (7x A, 11x B, 10x O and 4x GPP), which encompass different aspects of nutritional support including indication, route of feeding, energy and protein requirements, micronutrient requirements, disease-specific nutrients, timing, monitoring and procedure of intervention. The results of the first online voting showed a strong consensus (agreement of >90%) on 100% of the recommendations. Therefore, no final consensus conference was needed.
CONCLUSIONS
Recent high-quality trials have provided increasing evidence that nutritional support can reduce morbidity and other complications associated with malnutrition in polymorbid patients. The timely screening of patients for risk of malnutrition at hospital admission followed by individualized nutritional support interventions for at-risk patients should be part of routine clinical care and multimodal treatment in hospitals worldwide. Use of this updated guideline offers an evidence-based nutritional approach to the polymorbid medical inpatients and may improve their outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Inpatients; Malnutrition; Nutritional Support; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 37478809
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.06.023