Epidemiology of malnutrition in different care settings

Determining the epidemiology of malnutrition is of utmost importance, since it is one of the most prevalent conditions in the community, residential care, and hospital settings. Nutrient imbalance, such as decreased provision of calories, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, leads to a progressive deficiency status, while the excess is associated with overweight and obesity. Both are considered malnutrition. Furthermore, malnutrition is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital readmissions, cost and decreased quality of life. Therefore, a stable nutritional status should be targeted as an integral part of healthcare, and routine nutritional assessment should be carried out as a quality assurance practice. Despite this, healthcare providers, including physicians and medical administrators, often overlook nutritional aspects.