Nutrition in the Hospitalized Elderly

Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Nutrition is a major predictor of hospitalization outcomes in the elderly population. However, malnutrition is a prevalent problem encountered in this setting. Aging itself along with health status and hospital related environmental factors determine the nutritional state of the patient. In order to prevent the negative consequences related to malnutrition, clinicians should attempt early recognition of the patients at risk. Careful nutritional assessment and subsequent planned individualized nutritional intervention are necessary immediately upon admission and on a regular basis during the hospital stay and may be necessary to continue after discharge.The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with an overview of some issues in nutrition for hospitalized elderly. Here, we provide a brief overview on major pathways involved in the pathogenesis of malnutrition in different hospital settings. Finally, the most popular screening nutritional tools, the structured comprehensive nutritional assessment, and the basis of nutritional interventional plan are also illustrated.