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Malnutrition in the elderly: a narrative review.
E Agarwal1, M Miller, A Yaxley
1School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
Maturitas
|August 21, 2013
Summary
Malnutrition in older adults is common and linked to age and health conditions. Early screening and intervention for nutritional issues in the elderly improve health outcomes and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Nutrition often focuses on preventing lifestyle diseases, but aging populations require different nutritional strategies.
- Older adults face unique challenges including increased nutrient needs, reduced energy intake, and lean muscle loss.
- Malnutrition, including protein-energy malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia, is prevalent in the elderly, increasing with age and comorbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the changing nutritional priorities in older adults.
- To emphasize the causes and prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly.
- To advocate for early identification and management of nutritional issues in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Review of common causes of malnutrition in the elderly.
- Discussion of validated screening tools for malnutrition (e.g., Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form [MNA-SF], Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool ['MUST'], Mini-Screening Tool [MST]).
- Recommendations for screening frequency and settings for older adults.
Main Results:
- Protein-energy malnutrition prevalence rises with age and comorbidities.
- Several validated screening tools are available for identifying malnutrition in older adults.
- Regular screening is recommended at various healthcare touchpoints.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and treatment of malnutrition in older adults are crucial.
- Addressing nutritional challenges can improve health outcomes and quality of life for the elderly.
- Proactive nutritional management is essential for healthy aging.
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