malnutrition and cachexia Flashcards
general state of inadequate nutrient and/or energy intake and absorption to meet metabolic demands
Malnutrition
3 causes of malnutrition
- Poor intake - imbalanced diet, anorexia, sensory issues, poor dentition, diminished thirst/hunger
- Poor absorption - intestinal bacterial overgrowth, inflammatory disease, GI tract resection or scarring
- Increased metabolic needs - cancer, burns, AIDS
how to calculate % usual weight
(actual weight ➗ usual weight) x 100
how to screen children for malnutrition
body length and head circumference
skin, hair, nails, mucosal membranes is what type of system
Integumentary
immunosuppression, anemia, bleeding or bruising
is what type of system
Hematopoiesis
paresthesias, weakness, cognitive delay or impairment is what type of system
Neurologic
which malnutrition screen uses calipers
skinfold thickness
which malnutrition screening uses tape measure
Midarm muscle circumference
the BMI for underweight is
<18.5
what is used to assess child’s growth relative to peers
Failure to thrive
growth charts
low height-for-age
Associated with chronic or recurrent undernutrition
stunting
low weight-for-age
Associated with recent/severe weight loss as well as chronic undernutrition
wasting
dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA)
considered the gold standard and is most accessible
imaging
what labs are ordered to screen malnutrition
- Somatic proteins - 24 hour urinary creatinine excretion
- Assesses relative state of skeletal muscle mass - Visceral proteins - albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein
what protein is most commonly used; t ½ 20 days
Can be decreased in acute septic states, even without malnutrition
Albumin
what protein has t ½ of 2 days
More useful in very acute malnourishment
Also depressed in acute stress states
Prealbumin
what protein has t ½ of 8-10 days
Elevated in iron deficiency states
transferrin
what is Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)
nutrient reference values developed by the Institute of Medicine to quantify recommended levels of a given nutrient necessary for optimal health based on a patient’s individual characteristics (e.g. height, gender, activity level)
the DRI includes ?
RDA, AI, EAR, EER, UL
what is Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
average daily dietary nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group
what is Adequate Intake (AI)
recommended average daily intake level based on approximations or estimates of nutrient intake by a group (or groups) of apparently healthy people that are assumed to be adequate
what is used when an RDA cannot be determined
Adequate Intake (AI)
what is Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirement of half (50%) the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group