1b Malnutrition Flashcards
What is meant by malnutrition?
A state in which deficiency, excess or imbalance, of energy, protein or other nutrients, results in a measurable adverse effect on body composition, function and clinical outcome.
Which demographic is malnutrition most common in?
Older females, white
Which groups are at the highest risk of malnutrition?
Over 65 over, alcohol or drug dependency or chronic progressive disease are at the highest risk of malnutrition
What are the three broad categories of causes of malnutrition?
Reduced intake
Maldigestion / malabsorption
Altered metabolism
What is disease related anorexia?
Disease = upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines which upregulate anorectic cytokines and reduce appetite
What are causes of maldigestion / malabsorption in the hospital?
Function
Length
Losses
Drug-nutrient interactions
Describe the changes in altered metabolism over the course of a hospital stay?
Initially = hypometabolism
Then increases to hypermetabolism
What is the impact of malnutrition ?
Physical and functional decline and poorer clinical outcomes
↑ Mortality, septic and post surgical complications, length of hospital-stay, pressure sores, re-admissions, dependency
↓ Wound healing, response to treatment, rehabilitation potential, quality of life
What is the MUST?
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool - used to idenfity risk, not assessment or diagnosis
What are the three stages of diagnosing malnutrition?
Screen -> Assess (dietician collects information to determine the nature and cause of the nutrient imbalance) -> Diagnose
What are some of the factors which dieticians might assess?
Anthropometry
Body composition
Function
Biochemistry
Clinical
Dietary What a
Social Wat
Physical
Requirements
What are the factors which contribute to MUST?
Malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) based on BMI, unplanned weight loss and presence of acute disease.
Categorises individuals as being at low, medium and high risk
What are the requirements for being malnourished?
BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 or
Unintentional weight loss >10 % past 3 - 6 / 12 or
BMI < 20 kg/m2 + unintentional weight loss > 5 % past 3 – 6 / 12.
What are the requirements for being at risk of malnourishment?
Have eaten little or nothing for > 5 days and / or are likely to eat little or nothing for the next 5 days or longer or
Have a poor absorptive capacity, and / or have high nutrient losses and/or have increased nutritional needs from causes such as catabolism.
How is the treatment of malnutrition established?
Ir oral nutrition safe and possible? - if yes then nutritional support, if no -> then artificial nutrition
If GI tract is functional and accessible, then Enteral tube feeding, if not, then parenteral nutrition
What are the nutritional options available via the oral route?
Fortification of meals and snacks
Altered meal patterns
Practical support
Oral nutritional supplements (ONS)
Tailored dietary counselling
Which patients are considered for oral nutritional support?
Consider for any patient with inadequate food and fluid intakes to meet requirements, unless they cannot swallow safely, have inadequate gastrointestinal function or if no benefit is anticipated e.g. end of life care.
Q. What is artificial nutrition support?
A. The provision of enteral or parenteral nutrients to treat or prevent malnutrition.