Malnutrition Screening and Assessment

Abstract

Malnutrition is a serious problem with negative impact on the quality of life and the evolution of our patients, contributing to an increase in morbidity, hospital stay, mortality and health spending. Early identification is fundamental to implement the necessary therapeutic actions involving adequate nutritional support to prevent or reverse malnutrition. This review presents two complementary methods of fighting malnutrition: nutritional screening and nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk screening is conducted using simple, quick-to-perform tools and is the first line of action in detecting at-risk patients. It should be implemented systematically and periodically on admission to hospital or residential care, as well as on an outpatient basis for patients with chronic conditions. Once patients with a nutritional risk have been detected they should undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify the type and degree of malnutrition. This should include health history and clinical examination, dietary history, anthropometric measurements, evaluation of the degree of aggression determined by the disease, functional assessment and, whenever possible, some method of measuring body composition.

Prescription and Delivery of Enteral Nutrition for ICU Patients: A Case Study of a Hospital in the Interior of Brazil

“…Therefore, nutritional intervention plays an important role in muscle catabolism by reducing or reversing the loss of muscle mass or maintaining the nutritional status of the patient, reducing pressure injuries, and improving signs of nutrient deficiency [35]. Reports from the literature indicate that ICU patients using ENT end up receiving a smaller volume of diet and, consequently lower caloric and protein intake than desirable/prescribed [36]. In the first four weeks of hospitalization, there was a significant difference between the volume of ENT prescribed and infused, as well as calories and proteins (Table 2).…”

Global, regional and national burdens of nutritional deficiencies, from 1990 to 2019

“…Interventions such as fortification of staple foods, promotion of breastfeeding and implementation of school feeding programs have also been initiated to address specific NDs (44) . It is also recognized that the use of dietary supplements can be valuable in meeting the energy and nutrient needs of individuals, especially when natural food sources are inadequate (45) .…”