ppp:04 LORD_c

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12 VOLKERT/C/ppp:04 LORD_c

5/10/10

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The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging© Volume 14, Number 5, 2010

JNHA: GERIATRIC SCIENCE

UNDIAGNOSED MALNUTRITION AND NUTRITION-RELATED PROBLEMS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS D. VOLKERT1, C. SAEGLITZ2, H. GUELDENZOPH3, C.C. SIEBER1, P. STEHLE2 1. Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany (DV, CCS); 2. Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences (IEL) – Nutrition Physiology, University of Bonn, Germany (CS, PS); 3. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Malteser-Hospital, Bonn, Germany (HG). Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Dorothee Volkert, PhD, Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heimerichstraße 58, 90419 Nürnberg, Germany, Phone +49 - 911 – 30005-17, Fax +49 - 911 – 30005-25 E-Mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Background & aims: Malnutrition is common in geriatric patients and associated with poor outcome. If recognised, effective treatment is possible. In recent years, low nutritional awareness among health care professionals (HCPs) has been deplored with respect to the general hospital population. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess to which extent malnutrition and nutrition-related problems are documented by physicians and nursing staff in geriatric patients and whether nutrition support is used in daily clinical routine. Methods: Patient’s characteristics, nutritional status (BMI, Subjective Global Assessment, Mini Nutritional Assessment) and several nutrition-related problems (e.g. weight loss, poor appetite, chewing and swallowing problems) were assessed in 205 patients consecutively admitted to the geriatric ward of a community hospital on the first day after admission. After discharge, all documented information in the medical folders about nutritional status, nutrition-related problems and nutrition support was systematically collected. Results: According to BMI (< 22 kg/m²) and Subjective Global Assessment (C), malnutrition was observed in 25.4 %, according to Mini Nutritional Assessment (