Malnutrition should be systematically diagnosed, in 4 successive stages:
Monitor the patient’s weight : draw a weight graph to detect any weight loss.
Calculate the patient’s BMI : Body Mass Index.
The calculation is simple (weight in Kg / height in metres squared) and the result immediately indicates any possibility of malnutrition.
A patient is considered to be suffering from malnutrition if the results are as follows :
The patient’s diet :
Four key questions are used to define the patient’s diet and detect a possible risk of malnutrition.
Source : Cahier de Dénutrition diététique, 1999 – Evaluation de l'état nutritionnel du sujet âgé (Pr. B. Lesourd)
At least one red answer = risk of malnutrition
If, at this stage of the consultation, the patient has been shown to have a BMI below 20 and to have a poor diet, the diagnostic procedure should be extended to include the measurement of biological markers.
Measure the following biological markers :
• FBC-Blood ionogram
• Albumin :
• Pre-albumin :
 Source : Traité de Nutrition SFNEP 2002 |
WHAT IS MALNUTRITION ?