Malnutrition Flashcards
Definition
Deficiency of nutrients including:
- Energy
- Vitamins
- Proteins
- Minerals
This causes measurable adverse on the body composition, function or clinical outcome
Prevalence of malnutrition in children.
Becoming an increase problem in the UK with being obese/ overweight:
- 28% of children 2-15 are overweight/ obese
- Obese children are increasingly staying obese in adulthood.
- 21% of 4&5 year olds are overweight/ obese
- 34% of 10&11 year olds are overweight/ obese.
Global perspective on malnutrition.
Despite increasing food availability, 500 mil people in the word still malnourished.
Types of severe malnutrition
Severely underweight:
- Marasmus
- Kwashiorkor
Marasmus
Type of severe malnutrition caused mainly by lack of energy (calorie intake).
Loss of subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle.
Kwashiorkor
Type of severe malnutrition caused predominantly by protein malnutrition but sufficient calorie intake (energy).
Characterised by oedema- pitting oedema and distended abdomen.
Malnutrition in the UK
Affects over 3 million people, most commonly in hospitalised patients.
Most common population malnourished in the UK (top 3)
- Hospital inpatients- 30%
- Hospital outpatients- 20%
- Children in hospital/ sheltered and elderly at home - 14%
Types of malnutrition
Total deficiency:
Protein and energy malnutrition.
Nutrient deficiency:
Lack of specific nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein.
Malnutrition and GI/Liver disease.
Highly prevalent in diseases of the GI and liver.
- More than 50% patients with GI/Liver disease are malnourished.
- Up to 80% with GI malignancy are malnourished, esp. of the pancreas
Malnutrition and surgical patients.
Malnutrition can be very prevalent in surgical patients.
87% of patients undergoing general surgery become malnourished.
4 mechanisms of malnutrition.
- Inadequate intake of nutrients.
- Impaired digestion/ processing of nutrients- malabsorption.
- Excess loss of nutrients.
- Altered requirement of nutrients.
Malabsorption
Impaired digestion and processing of nutrients- can lead to malnutrition.
Caused by dysfunction of:
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Intestines
Causes of excess loss of nutrients [6]
XS loss= malnutrition.
Causes:
- Vomiting
- Nasogastric (NG) tube drainage.
- Diarrhoea
- Surgical drains
- Fistula
- Stomas (opening in the body)
Altered requirements [ 5 causes] + malnutrition
An increase in metabolic demand causes more energy required via calorie intake.
Insufficient calorie intake = malnutrition.
Causes: Inflammation Cancer Wounds Burns Brain injury