Malnutrition in the hospitalized geriatric patient.

The nutritional status of 59 consecutive geriatric male patients admitted to the medical service of a Veterans Administration Hospital was evaluated and compared with that of 93 younger patients admitted during the period. Protein-calorie malnutrition was diagnosed in 61 per cent of patients aged 65 or older compared with 28 per cent of patients younger than 65. The death rate and the incidence of infection were higher in the malnourished geriatric patients, however, there was no increase in the incidences of these abnormal findings compared with well-nourished patients udder the age of 65. The presence of malnutrition on admission, regardless of age, predicted a significant increase in the risk of infection or death during the hospital course.