ABSTRACT
Malnutrition has been defined as a condition of an imbalance of energy, protein, and other nutrients that cause measurable negative effects on body composition, physical function, and clinical outcomes. A new definition of malnutrition has been proposed by an International Guideline Consensus Committee, integrating the acuity of the associated disease and inflammation. Advanced age is an independent risk factor for malnutrition and is associated with a lower body weight, body mass index, and serum albumin. The prevalence of malnutrition is greater among older adults in health care settings than in the community. In many patient populations, malnutrition and sarcopenia are present in parallel and manifest clinically through a combination of decreased nutrient intake, decreased body weight, along with a decrease in muscle mass, strength, and/or physical function. Clinicians should integrate nutrition assessment with sarcopenia screening for optimal evaluation of the inter-related nutritional issues to help improve patients’ clinical outcomes.
