A G M Rojer1, H M Kruizenga2, M C Trappenburg3, E M Reijnierse1, S Sipilä4, M V Narici5, J Y Hogrel6, G Butler-Browne6, J S McPhee7, M Pääsuke8, C G M Meskers9, A B Maier3, M A E de van der Schueren10. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Malnutrition Steering Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, The Netherlands. 4. Gerontology Research Centre and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. 5. Division of Medical Sciences & Graduate Entry Medicine, MRC-ARUK Centre of Excellence for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital Centre, UK. 6. UPMC UM 76, INSERM U 974, CNRS 7215, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France. 7. School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. 8. Institute of Exercise Biology and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Centre of Behavioral and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. 9. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 10. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Nutrition, Sports and Health, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.devanderschueren@vumc.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Consensus on the definition of malnutrition has not yet been reached. Recently, The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) proposed a consensus definition of malnutrition. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of malnutrition according to the ESPEN definition in four diverse populations. METHODS: In total, 349 acutely ill middle-aged patients, 135 geriatric outpatients, 306 healthy old individuals and 179 healthy young individuals were included in the study. Subjects were screened for risk of malnutrition using the SNAQ. The ESPEN definition of malnutrition, i.e. low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m(2)) or a combination of unintentional weight loss and low FFMI or low BMI was applied to all subjects. RESULTS: Screening identified 0, 0.5, 10 and 30% of the healthy young, the healthy old, the geriatric outpatients and the acutely ill middle-aged patients as being at risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition ranged from 0% in the healthy young, 0.5% in healthy old individuals, 6% in the geriatric outpatients to 14% in the acutely ill middle-aged patients. Prevalence of low FFMI was observed in all four populations (14-33%), but concurred less frequently with weight loss (0-13%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the ESPEN definition, 0%-14% malnutrition was found in the diverse populations. Further work is needed to fully address the validity of a two-step approach, including risk assessment as an initial step in screening and defining malnutrition. Furthermore, assessing the predictive validity of the ESPEN definition is needed.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Consensus on the definition of malnutrition has not yet been reached. Recently, The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) proposed a consensus definition of malnutrition. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of malnutrition according to the ESPEN definition in four diverse populations. METHODS: In total, 349 acutely ill middle-aged patients, 135 geriatric outpatients, 306 healthy old individuals and 179 healthy young individuals were included in the study. Subjects were screened for risk of malnutrition using the SNAQ. The ESPEN definition of malnutrition, i.e. low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m(2)) or a combination of unintentional weight loss and low FFMI or low BMI was applied to all subjects. RESULTS: Screening identified 0, 0.5, 10 and 30% of the healthy young, the healthy old, the geriatric outpatients and the acutely ill middle-aged patients as being at risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition ranged from 0% in the healthy young, 0.5% in healthy old individuals, 6% in the geriatric outpatients to 14% in the acutely ill middle-aged patients. Prevalence of low FFMI was observed in all four populations (14-33%), but concurred less frequently with weight loss (0-13%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the ESPEN definition, 0%-14% malnutrition was found in the diverse populations. Further work is needed to fully address the validity of a two-step approach, including risk assessment as an initial step in screening and defining malnutrition. Furthermore, assessing the predictive validity of the ESPEN definition is needed.