BMJ  2008;336:290 (9 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39449.723090.80

Editorials

Malnutrition in hospitals

Still common because screening tools are underused and poorly enforced

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Malnutrition is a common cause and consequence of illness, particularly in older people. The number of malnourished people leaving NHS hospitals in England has risen by 85% over the past 10 years. It is still rising and reached almost 140 000 in 2006-7.1 Surveys elsewhere consistently find that about 20% of patients in general hospitals are malnourished (body mass index <18.5 (the World Health Organization 1995 cut off for malnutrition), or thin and losing weight, or both). Figures are higher if specific nutrient deficiencies or functional indications of malnutrition are included.

Despite the frequency of malnutrition, it is undiagnosed in up to 70% of patients. This is partly because of the lack of simple laboratory tests, and because biochemical tests for nutritional status are difficult to interpret, particularly as they are often influenced by acute phase responses to inflammation in sick patients. Around 70-80% of malnourished patients currently enter and . . . [Full text of this article]

Mike Lean, professor of human nutrition1, Martin Wiseman, visiting professor2

1 Division of Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, 2 Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD

lean@clinmed.gla.ac.uk


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  • Correia, M. I. T. D. (2009). Letter to the Editor. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 33: 453-454 [Full text]  
  • Oliver, D. (2008). Falls risk-prediction tools for hospital inpatients. Time to put them to bed?. Age Ageing 37: 248-250 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

National efforts underway to address undernutrition in hospital
Sumantra Ray
bmj.com, 8 Feb 2008 [Full text]
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