Related Experiment Videos
[Protein-energy malnutrition. Diagnostic methods and epidemiology]
T Constans1, E Alix, V Dardaine
1Hôpital de l'Ermitage, CHU de Tours, 2, allée Gaston Pagès, F37081 Tours.
Epidemiology:
Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is highly prevalent among elderly persons living in the community (4%), hospitalized in acute care units or geriatric rehabilitation units (50%), or in long-term care facilities (30-40%). PCM is the first predictor of poor prognosis in the elderly.
Diagnosis:
Parameters used to establish the diagnosis of PCM and identify its pathophysiology are both simple and inexpensive: body mass index, plasma albumin and CRP, arm circumference and skin fold thickness.
Consequences:
Because of its frequency and consequences on morbidity and mortality in the elderly, PCM is an important public health problem in industrialized countries.