Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients: The Overlooked Crisis & The Role of Nutritionists

Introduction

Malnutrition is a silent but serious issue in hospitals worldwide, including Nigeria. Many hospitalized patients are undernourished, leading to longer recovery times, increased risk of infections, and poor treatment outcomes. Unfortunately, malnutrition often goes unnoticed because medical teams focus primarily on treating the primary illness, not the patient’s nutritional status.

As nutritionists and dietitians, we have a crucial role in identifying and addressing malnutrition in hospitalized patients. But how often is this role recognized? How can we integrate nutritional care into standard medical treatment?

How Often is Malnutrition Overlooked in Hospitals?

Studies show that 30-50% of hospitalized patients suffer from some form of malnutrition. Yet, it often goes undiagnosed because:
✅ Doctors and nurses are not trained to identify malnutrition early.
✅ Malnourished patients may not "look thin" but could have micronutrient deficiencies.
✅ There is little emphasis on routine nutritional screening upon admission.
✅ Lack of collaboration between healthcare providers and nutritionists.

This delay in recognizing malnutrition leads to:
🚨 Longer hospital stays
🚨 Higher infection rates
🚨 Delayed wound healing
🚨 Increased healthcare costs

Example: A patient admitted for surgery may experience complications if they are malnourished, leading to a longer recovery period. However, if a nutritionist had been involved early, they could have provided a pre-surgery and post-surgery nutrition plan to improve healing.

How Nutritionists Can Improve Patient Outcomes

💡 1. Early Nutritional Screening & Assessment

• Every patient admitted to a hospital should undergo a basic nutritional screening.
• Tools like the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) or Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) can help.
• If a patient is at risk, a dietitian should be consulted immediately.

💡 2. Personalized Nutrition Plans

• Patients with malnutrition require individualized meal plans.
• Adjustments should be made based on disease condition, weight, and ability to eat.
• This includes oral nutrition support, enteral (tube feeding), or parenteral nutrition (IV feeding) where necessary.

💡 3. Working with Medical Teams

• Nutritionists should collaborate with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to integrate nutrition into treatment plans.
• Regular rounds and case discussions can ensure that nutrition is considered in medical care.

💡 4. Nutrition Education for Healthcare Providers

• Many healthcare professionals do not receive enough training in nutrition.
• Nutritionists should advocate for nutrition education for hospital staff to improve patient care.

💡 5. Monitoring & Adjustments

• Malnourished patients should be closely monitored.
• If oral feeding is not improving their health, nutrition support (tube feeding or IV nutrition) should be considered.

Case Study: Managing Malnutrition in a Hospitalized Patient

Patient Profile

🔹 Name: Mr. A, 64 years old
🔹 Diagnosis: Stroke with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
🔹 Nutritional Status: Unintended weight loss, muscle wasting, low appetite

Challenges

⚠️ Mr A was unable to eat properly due to swallowing difficulties.
⚠️ No nutritional assessment was done upon admission, so his malnutrition worsened.
⚠️ He developed bedsores and infections due to poor nutrition.

Intervention

🔹 A dietitian assessed his nutritional needs and recommended a high-protein liquid diet.
🔹 A speech therapist worked on his swallowing ability.
🔹 When oral feeding was insufficient, he was placed on enteral feeding (nasogastric tube).
🔹 Micronutrient supplements (zinc, vitamin C) were added to improve wound healing.

Outcome

✅ His weight stabilized.
✅ His wounds healed faster.
✅ His hospital stay was shortened.

This case shows that early nutrition intervention can prevent complications, reduce hospital stay, and improve recovery.

Conclusion: What Next?

Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is a major issue, but nutritionists can change that! Hospitals should:
✅ Make nutritional screening a routine part of patient care.
✅ Integrate nutritionists into medical teams.
✅ Educate doctors and nurses on the importance of nutrition in recovery.
✅ Consider corporate wellness programs to prevent malnutrition in the general population.

📢 Are you a hospital, HMO, or healthcare provider looking to improve patient outcomes through nutrition? Let’s work together!

📩 Email us at tgncinitiative@gmail.com to discuss how nutrition can transform healthcare!