Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8(2), 514-527; doi:10.3390/ijerph8020514
Hospital Malnutrition: Prevalence, Identification and Impact on Patients and the Healthcare System
1
Nutrition Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Str., Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia
2
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Victoria, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 20 December 2010 / Revised: 10 January 2011 / Accepted: 4 February 2011 / Published: 16 February 2011
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malnutrition and Public Health)
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Abstract
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. View Full-TextKeywords:
diagnosis-related groups; economics; hospital; malnutrition; nutrition assessment; screening
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0).
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Barker, L.A.; Gout, B.S.; Crowe, T.C. Hospital Malnutrition: Prevalence, Identification and Impact on Patients and the Healthcare System. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8, 514-527.
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