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Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Age-Related Disability pp 35–45Cite as

Malnutrition Unrecognized and Untreated

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Part of the book series: Practical Issues in Geriatrics ((PIG))

Abstract

Malnutrition is common across varying patient populations, particularly older adults, and sarcopenia prevalence increases with advancing age. Chronic diseases, acute inflammation, and important comorbidities make the situation more complex. When these changes are translated into nutritional concepts, it is clear that in the older patient there is a strong overlap of starvation, sarcopenia, and cachexia. The final result is a complex metabolic state resulting in a therapy resistant malnutrition-sarcopenia syndrome. This condition is associated with substantial adverse outcomes affecting both the patient and the health care system, including increased morbidity, mortality, rehospitalization rates, and health care costs. Clinicians are urged to screen, assess, and treat this condition currently so as to adequately address the full spectrum of patients’ nutritional issues. By examining all aspects, clinicians can more fully assess their patients’ clinical and nutritional status and can tailor targeted therapies to meet their needs and improve outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department Geriatrics, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen (ZNA), University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

    M. Vandewoude & S. Perkisas

Authors
  1. M. Vandewoude
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  2. S. Perkisas
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Correspondence to M. Vandewoude .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland

    Jean-Pierre Michel

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Vandewoude, M., Perkisas, S. (2019). Malnutrition Unrecognized and Untreated. In: Michel, JP. (eds) Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Age-Related Disability. Practical Issues in Geriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96529-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96529-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-96528-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96529-1

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