Hospital Malnutrition: Prevalence, Identification and Impact on Patients and the Healthcare System

Lisa A. Barker, Belinda S. Gout and Timothy C. Crowe
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Lisa A. Barker: Nutrition Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Str., Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia
Belinda S. Gout: Nutrition Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Str., Parkville 3050, Victoria, Australia
Timothy C. Crowe: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, Victoria, Australia

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Malnutrition is a debilitating and highly prevalent condition in the acute hospital setting, with Australian and international studies reporting rates of approximately 40%. Malnutrition is associated with many adverse outcomes including depression of the immune system, impaired wound healing, muscle wasting, longer lengths of hospital stay, higher treatment costs and increased mortality. Referral rates for dietetic assessment and treatment of malnourished patients have proven to be suboptimal, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing such aforementioned complications. Nutrition risk screening using a validated tool is a simple technique to rapidly identify patients at risk of malnutrition, and provides a basis for prompt dietetic referrals. In Australia, nutrition screening upon hospital admission is not mandatory, which is of concern knowing that malnutrition remains under-reported and often poorly documented. Unidentified malnutrition not only heightens the risk of adverse complications for patients, but can potentially result in foregone reimbursements to the hospital through casemix-based funding schemes. It is strongly recommended that mandatory nutrition screening be widely adopted in line with published best-practice guidelines to effectively target and reduce the incidence of hospital malnutrition.

Keywords: diagnosis-related groups; economics; hospital; malnutrition; nutrition assessment; screening (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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