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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285220
Title: Adult nutrition assessment tutorial

Author
item JENSEN, GORDON - Pennsylvania State University
item HSIAO, PAO YING - Pennsylvania State University
item WHEELER, DARA - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2012
Publication Date: 4/24/2012
Citation: Jensen, G.L., Hsiao, P., Wheeler, D. 2012. Adult Nutrition Assessment Tutorial. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 36(3):267-274.

Interpretive Summary: Malnutrition is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed by health practitioners, but appropriate diagnosis of malnutrition is integral in guiding proper interventions and achieving expected outcomes. There are three proposed malnutrition syndromes: starvation-associated malnutrition, chronic disease-associated malnutrition, and acute disease or injury-associated malnutrition. This article provides a tutorial on the systematic approach to assessment to accurately recognize and intervene appropriately based on the type of malnutrition identified. Case study examples are provided with appropriate indicators to look for in aiding diagnosis. Appropriate diagnosis of malnutrition using practical indicators will help guide proper interventions and lead to better outcomes.

Technical Abstract: This tutorial presents a systematic approach to nutrition assessment based on a modern appreciation for the contributions of inflammation that serve as the foundation for newly proposed consensus definitions for malnutrition syndromes. Practical indicators of malnutrition and inflammation have been selected to guide diagnosis that include medical/surgical history and clinical diagnosis, clinical signs and physical examination, anthropometric data, laboratories, dietary assessment, and functional outcomes. Knowledge of systematic nutrition assessment and appropriate diagnosis of malnutrition will help to guide proper interventions and expected outcomes.