1
|
Verstraeten LMG, van Wijngaarden JP, Meskers CGM, Maier AB. High Sarcopenia Awareness Contrasts a Lack of Clinical Implementation Among Geriatric Rehabilitation Health Care Professionals in the Netherlands: EMPOWER-GR. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2024; 47:67-76. [PMID: 36827678 DOI: 10.1519/jpt.0000000000000379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Despite being associated with serious adverse outcomes, such as mortality, sarcopenia remains largely undiagnosed in older individuals. This study aimed to assess the awareness, practices, and barriers and enablers to clinical implementation of sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment among geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals in the Netherlands. METHODS As part of EMPOWER-GR, a cross-sectional survey among geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals working in the Netherlands was undertaken between September 23, 2020, and January 28, 2021. Professionals were recruited via a geriatric rehabilitation care provider, health care professional associations, professional networks of the research team, and social media. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the study outcomes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of the 501 geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals, 12.2% were physicians, 23.0% physical therapist/occupational therapists, 30.3% dietitians, 19.6% nurses, and 11.0% health care assistants. The concept of sarcopenia was known by 83.8% of the participants, 92.5% correctly identified sarcopenia as low muscle mass and strength (and low physical performance), and 73.8% identified sarcopenia as very important in the management of older adults admitted for rehabilitation. Although 26.2% and 18.9% of the participants reported screening and diagnosing sarcopenia, respectively, in their current practice, only 3.0% adequately used the (revised) definition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. When sarcopenia has been diagnosed, 65.0% reported initiating treatment consisting of resistance exercise training (78.7%), food fortification/high-energy or protein diet (85.4%), and oral nutritional supplements (70.4%). Most important barriers to screening and diagnosis were lack of knowledge, access to tools, and equipment and time, while enablers were protocol implementation, access to training, and clear responsibilities. CONCLUSIONS Sarcopenia awareness is high among geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals in the Netherlands, but adequate screening and diagnosis is almost nonexistent in current clinical practice, which hampers interventions. Better knowledge, clear responsibilities, and access to tools and protocols, as well as prioritization, are needed for sarcopenia to be diagnosed and treated in geriatric rehabilitation in the Netherlands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laure M G Verstraeten
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Carel G M Meskers
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea B Maier
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Center for Healthy Longevity, @AgeSingapore, National University Health System, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lee SC, Chiu HL, Lai HW, Feng J, Chen TY, Lin MC, Lin CF. Development and validation of a new tool: The sarcopenia knowledge questionnaire. Geriatr Nurs 2023; 53:90-95. [PMID: 37454424 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
We developed a new questionnaire-the Sarcopenia Knowledge Questionnaire (SKQ)-to evaluate the level of awareness about sarcopenia among older adults and tested the reliability and validity of this tool. A total of 293 older adults completed the questionnaire. The SKQ comprises three domains including 23 items: screening and diagnosis (10 items), sarcopenia outcomes (7 items), and lifestyle factors (6 items). The Cronbach's α value was 0.969, which indicated excellent internal consistency. The SKQ correlated well with the Mandarin Multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (r = 0.511; p < 0.001), confirming its moderate convergent validity. The absolute values of the critical ratio ranged from 9.90 to 25.82 (p < 0.001), indicating satisfactory item discrimination. Thus, the SKQ appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the knowledge of older adults about sarcopenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Chun Lee
- School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan; International PhD Program in Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Ling Chiu
- School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan; International PhD Program in Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wen Lai
- Section of Nurse Practitioner, Department of Medical Administration, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jie Feng
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Hospital Infection-Control, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tzu-Ying Chen
- Graduate Institute of Data Science, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chin Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurosurgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Center of Osteoporosis, Sarcopenia and Frailty (COSaF), Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chiou-Fen Lin
- School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Verstraeten LM, van Wijngaarden JP, Tol-Schilder M, Meskers CG, Maier AB. Combating sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation patients: study protocol of the EMPOWER-GR observational cohort, sarcopenia awareness survey and randomised controlled feasibility trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e054950. [PMID: 35288386 PMCID: PMC8921849 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in geriatric rehabilitation patients. Resistance exercise training (RET) combined with protein supplementation is recommended to increase muscle mass and strength in older adults. However, sarcopenia awareness, feasibility to diagnose and treat sarcopenia, and efficacy of treatment in geriatric rehabilitation patients remain to be established. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Enhancing Muscle POWER in Geriatric Rehabilitation (EMPOWER-GR) encompasses four pillars: (1) an observational cohort study of 200 geriatric rehabilitation inpatients determining sarcopenia prevalence, functional and nutritional status at admission; (2) a survey among these 200 patients and 500 healthcare professionals and semistructured interviews in 30 patients and 15 carers determining sarcopenia awareness and barriers/enablers regarding diagnostics and treatment; (3) a feasibility, single-centre, randomised, controlled, open-label, two parallel-group trial in 80 geriatric rehabilitation patients with sarcopenia. The active group (n=40) receives three RET sessions per week and a leucine and vitamin D-enriched whey protein-based oral nutritional supplement two times per day in combination with usual care for 13 weeks. The control group (n=40) receives usual care. Primary outcomes are feasibility (adherence to the intervention, dropout rate, overall feasibility) and change from baseline in absolute muscle mass at discharge and week 13. Secondary outcomes are feasibility (participation rate) and change from baseline at discharge and week 13 in relative muscle mass, muscle strength, physical and functional performance, mobility, nutritional status, dietary intake, quality of life and length of stay; institutionalisation and hospitalisation at 6 months and mortality at 6 months and 2 years; (4) knowledge sharing on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical exemption was received for the observational cohort study, ethics approval was received for the randomised controlled trial. Results will be disseminated through publications in scientific peer-reviewed journals, conferences and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NL9444.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laure Mg Verstraeten
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Age Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Marina Tol-Schilder
- Center of Excellence in Geriatric Rehabilitation, Cordaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carel Gm Meskers
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andrea B Maier
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Age Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Healthy Longevity, AgeSingapore, National University Health System, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Peixoto da Silva S, Santos JMO, Costa E Silva MP, Gil da Costa RM, Medeiros R. Cancer cachexia and its pathophysiology: links with sarcopenia, anorexia and asthenia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2020; 11:619-635. [PMID: 32142217 PMCID: PMC7296264 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, along with adipose tissue wasting, systemic inflammation and other metabolic abnormalities leading to functional impairment. Cancer cachexia has long been recognized as a direct cause of complications in cancer patients, reducing quality of life and worsening disease outcomes. Some related conditions, like sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting), anorexia (appetite loss) and asthenia (reduced muscular strength and fatigue), share some key features with cancer cachexia, such as weakness and systemic inflammation. Understanding the interplay and the differences between these conditions is critical to advance basic and translational research in this field, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and contributing to finally achieve effective therapies for affected patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Peixoto da Silva
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana M O Santos
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Paula Costa E Silva
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Palliative Care Service, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui M Gil da Costa
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal.,Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Postgraduate Programme in Adult Health (PPGSAD) and Tumour Biobank, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, Brazil
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Virology Service, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal.,Biomedical Research Center (CEBIMED), Faculty of Health Sciences of the Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal.,Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer - Regional Nucleus of the North (Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro - Núcleo Regional do Norte), Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Koroušić Seljak B, Mlakar Mastnak D, Mrevlje Ž, Veninšek G, Rotovnik Kozjek N. A multi-center survey on hospital malnutrition and cachexia in Slovenia. Eur J Clin Nutr 2020; 74:419-426. [PMID: 31388102 PMCID: PMC7062637 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-019-0485-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malnutrition has become a prevalent condition, with European and international studies reporting rates of approximately 25-40% in hospitals. We set out to perform a multi-center cross-sectional study to assess malnutrition rates in Slovenian hospitals and to convert the findings into a mobile application suitable for use by nurses and staff at the bedside. In addition, we examined the association of the results of this mobile application with parameters for body composition measured by bioimpedance method, muscle strength, anthropometrics, and specific blood markers. METHODS We selected the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) method, the second version of the modified short-form of Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF), and the diagnostic criteria for cachexia proposed by Evans (CDE) as evidence-based methods for estimating the risk of and prevalence of malnutrition or/and cachexia. The methods were converted into the Android mobile application named MalNut that was used in three Slovenian hospitals by nurses and dietitians. RESULTS We applied NRS-2002 and MNA-SF to screen for malnutrition risk and to assess malnutrition in 207 individuals aged 18 years and older, regardless of gender or reason for hospitalization during 1-week periods. Totally, 98% of these patients consider nutrition an important part of medical treatment care. NRS-2002 estimated the malnutrition risk to be 66.3%, which includes both patients to be at risk for malnutrition and patients that are truly malnourished. The malnutrition risk in the elderly (65+) estimated by MNA-SF was 39.6% and malnutrition 42.5%. When applying the CDE score in these two categories, 66.7% were identified as cachectic and 21.4% as pre-cachectic. In the patients assessed with the CDE score, malnutrition risk increased with higher extracellular water and decreased body mass index, hemoglobin, phase angle, and muscle strength. In all, 75% of patients assessed as high risk for malnutrition by NRS-2002, were identified as cachectic and 15.7% as pre-cachectic. In NRS-2002 assessed patients, this risk increased with higher C-reactive protein and lower phase angle. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that both malnutrition and cachexia are largely overlapping notions and are common in hospitalized adults in Slovenia. The MNA-SF and NRS-2002 tools showed that malnutrition risk was not significantly correlated with age, gender, serum albumin, but was correlated with lower phase angle, CRP, and muscle strength in elderly patients. The results have been used to develop further nutritional interventions in Slovenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Živa Mrevlje
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Institute of Liver Studies, London, UK
| | - Gregor Veninšek
- Peter Držaj Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Vodnikova 62, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nada Rotovnik Kozjek
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška c. 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 20, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yeung SSY, Reijnierse EM, Trappenburg MC, Meskers CGM, Maier AB. Current knowledge and practice of Australian and New Zealand health-care professionals in sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment: Time to move forward! Australas J Ageing 2019; 39:e185-e193. [PMID: 31617296 PMCID: PMC7497106 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To describe the current knowledge and practice of sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment among health‐care professionals before, directly after and 6 months after a professional development event on sarcopenia. Methods This longitudinal study included Australian and New Zealand health‐care professionals who completed questionnaires on knowledge, practice and barriers regarding sarcopenia before, directly after and 6 months after attending a professional development event on sarcopenia. Results A total of 250 professionals participated; 84 completed the 6‐month questionnaires. Before, directly after and at 6 months, respectively, 14.7%, 93.4% and 59.5% identified sarcopenia as a disease; 2.0%, 79.6% and 38.1% correctly answered the sex‐specific cut‐offs for low handgrip strength. Respectively, 12.0% and 14.3% reported to make sarcopenia diagnoses as part of their practice before and at 6 months. Conclusions Knowledge about sarcopenia is limited among health‐care professionals who attended a professional development event. Retention of knowledge remains a challenge to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suey S Y Yeung
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esmee M Reijnierse
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marijke C Trappenburg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
| | - Carel G M Meskers
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea B Maier
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nagano A, Nishioka S, Wakabayashi H. Rehabilitation Nutrition for Iatrogenic Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Dysphagia. J Nutr Health Aging 2019; 23:256-265. [PMID: 30820514 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-018-1150-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a very important issue in rehabilitation medicine and nutritional care. The prevalence of sarcopenia in older people is approximately 50% in the rehabilitation setting, and also approximately 15% of inpatients without sarcopenia upon admission developed sarcopenia during hospitalization. There is a concern that secondary sarcopenia may occur iatrogenically during hospitalization. Iatrogenic sarcopenia is defined as sarcopenia caused by the activities of medical staff including doctors, nurses, or other health care professionals in healthcare facilities. Iatrogenic sarcopenia is categorized into activity-related, nutrition-related and disease-related-iatrogenic sarcopenia. Especially in acute phase hospitals, concentrating on the treatment of diseases with less attention to nutrition and activity is more likely to cause iatrogenic sarcopenia. Sarcopenic dysphagia is also an important aspect in rehabilitation medicine and nutritional care. Sarcopenic dysphagia is characterized by swallowing difficulty because of a loss of mass and function in whole-body skeletal and swallowing muscles. Sarcopenic dysphagia can be diagnosed using a 5-step algorithm for the condition. Iatrogenic sarcopenia and sarcopenic dysphagia are affected by nutrition, activity and diseases in a complex manner. Therefore, treatment of iatrogenic sarcopenia and sarcopenic dysphagia requires comprehensive interventions through nutrition management and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation nutrition is effective for preventing and treating iatrogenic sarcopenia and sarcopenic dysphagia. Rehabilitation nutrition can be practiced more effectively and comprehensively by using the rehabilitation nutrition care process, which is a systematic problem-solving method. Further research is required to verify the efficacy of rehabilitation nutrition for preventing or improving iatrogenic sarcopenia and/or sarcopenic dysphagia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Nagano
- Hidetaka Wakabayashi, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Tel: +81-45-261-5656 Fax: +81-45-253-9955, E-mail:
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kokura, RD Y, Wakabayashi, MD, PhD H, Maeda, MD, PhD K, Nishioka, RD S, Nakahara, RD S. Impact of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation nutrition team on evaluating sarcopenia, cachexia and practice of rehabilitation nutrition. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INVESTIGATION 2017; 64:140-145. [DOI: 10.2152/jmi.64.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Keisuke Maeda, MD, PhD
- Department of Nutrition and Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Tamana Regional Health Medical Center
| | - Shinta Nishioka, RD
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Food Services, Nagasaki Rehabilitation Hospital
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Agarwal E, Miller M, Yaxley A, Isenring E. Malnutrition in the elderly: A narrative review. Maturitas 2013; 76:296-302. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 305] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
|
10
|
Economic evaluation for protein and energy supplementation in adults: opportunities to strengthen the evidence. Eur J Clin Nutr 2013; 67:1243-50. [PMID: 24169464 DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Malnutrition is a costly problem for health care systems internationally. Malnourished individuals require longer hospital stays and more intensive nursing care than adequately nourished individuals and have been estimated to cost an additional £7.3 billion in health care expenditures in the United Kingdom alone. However, treatments for malnutrition have rarely been considered from an economic perspective. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the cost effectiveness of using protein and energy supplementation as a widely used intervention to treat adults with and at risk of malnutrition. Papers were identified that included economic evaluations of protein or energy supplementation for the treatment or prevention of malnutrition in adults. While the variety of outcome measures reported for cost-effectiveness studies made synthesis of results challenging, cost-benefit studies indicated that the savings for the health system could be substantial due to reduced lengths of hospital stay and less intensive use of health services after discharge. In summary, the available economic evidence indicates that protein and energy supplementation in treatment or prevention of malnutrition provides an opportunity to improve patient wellbeing and lower health system costs.
Collapse
|
11
|
|