Malnutrition in the Frail patient
Ageing is a complex biological phenomenon of great importance.
In the western world, improvements in healthcare, changes in lifestyle and better hygiene have greatly increased average life expectancy.
Frailty is a progressive decline in the physiological functions of a person’s body. It is defined as a state of increased vulnerability to stress, which leads to a higher risk of dependency, functional decline, hospitalisation and mortality in older adults.
Frailty does not necessarily mean comorbidity, but many frail adults suffer from multiple chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, lung diseases or kidney failure. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from malnutrition due to numerous reasons: dental problems, reduced appetite, depression, dementia, lack of resources, etc.
Malnutrition and weight loss are associated with older patients and are often underdiagnosed.
In Spain, the prevalence of disease-related malnutrition (DRM) in hospitalised patients is around 30%–50%, and it may reach up to 80% in institutionalised patients..
Weight loss is one of the main factors that increase mortality in the geriatric population.