Background: Although often undiagnosed, undernutrition is prevalent among elderly patients in hospitals. The effect of undernutrition is reduced mental and pulmonary function, increased prevalence of infection, and increased morbidity and mortality.
Material and methods: This article presents an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of undernutrition in elderly patients with nonmalignant disease, based on relevant literature.
Results: There are no generally accepted definitions of undernutrition. Undernutrition should be suspected clinically and screened for, using anthropometric methods (body weight, body mass index, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference) or functional tests (hand dynamometry, laboratory parameters). Results from several studies indicate that nutritional intervention could increase body weight and physical capacity of patients and reduce length of hospitalisation and mortality.
Interpretation: Undernutrition is common in clinical practice. Hospitalised patients should be screened for risk of undernutrition. The screening should be combined with a nutrition plan, including strategies for nutrition therapy.