Nutrition support 1: risk factors, causes and physiology of malnutrition

This is a two-part unit on nutrition support. Levels of malnutrition are increasing in all age groups. This is a major clinical and public health concern that is often unrecognised and untreated. The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published a report last month, which recommended that all patients should be screened for malnutrition on admission to hospital with follow-up monitoring. Malnutrition is largely a treatable condition. Therefore, prompt identification, prevention and treatment are vital. Part 1 of this unit outlines the prevalence of malnutrition, its aetiology and the assessment tools to identify those at risk. It also provides a definition of nutrition support with a brief overview of the types of support available.