Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences - Vol. 11, No.3, August, Year 2015
Author: Tran Quoc Cuong, Vu Quynh Hoa, Do Thi Ngoc Diep
Summary:
Since the concern of malnutrition among hospitalised patients was raised in 1970’s, hospital malnutrition has been more and more clarified regarding pathophysiology, prevalence, aetiology, diagnosis criteria and intervention measures through vast amount of literatures globally. There is approximately 42% of patients in hospitals are malnourished worldwide regardless of income status of the countries. Hospital malnutrition leads to several adverse outcomes from depression of the immune system, impaired wound healing, increasing complications, increasing hospital length of stay, increasing mortality for the patients, thus leading to the increase of hospital loads and medical insurance payment for the healthcare system. Apart from lack of adequate nutrients intake, baseline medical diseases and inflammatory process also are factors that contribute to the pathology of hospital malnutrition. Therefore, the diagnosis and clinical manifestation of hospital malnutrition is not solely based on simple anthropometric index like body weight or height but more precise and validated screening and assessment tools.
Keyword: Malnutrition, hospital, frequency, cause, screening tool, assessment tool.
