Whilst obesity has been much in the spotlight over the past few years and UK numbers increasing dramatically due to the restrictions of the Coronavirus lockdowns, malnutrition is equally important and Nurses have a significant role to play in recognising, treating, and preventing malnutrition.
What is malnutrition?
The World Health Organisation (WHO), describes malnutrition as ‘deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients’ and the term is used to cover two broad groups of deficiencies:
Undernutrition—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
Overweight or ‘overnutrition’ – including obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).
The warning signs of malnutrition among adults:
Some effects of a poor diet on the body to look out for in patients include:
Loss of muscle strength
Prolonged healing of wounds
Prolonged recovery time following an illness
Low mood / or depression
Poor concentration
Frequently feeling cold
Dysphagia
Oral problems, such as dentition
A recent diagnosis or period of ill health
Dry, thin, or brittle hair
Cracked dry nails
Xerosis (dry skin)
Loose or poorly fitted clothes or jewellery
Reduced appetite
Lack of interest in food and drink
Tired or lethargic
There may be some pre-existing conditions that put patients at a higher risk of malnutrition, these include:
COPD due to difficulty eating
Diseases of the digestive system e.g. Crohn's, ulcerative colitis
Dementia that causes a person to forget to eat or lose focus on the importance of their nutrition
Long term conditions that can cause loss of appetite, increase nausea and vomiting or lead to changes in bowel habit—such as cancer and liver disease.
Mental health conditions, such as depression or schizophrenia, which may affect one’s desire to eat and their mood.
Nursing intervention for malnutrition
During ‘normal times’ (pre-COVID-19) malnutrition was found to be more common in those who were socially isolated. Now we are living in a time of social distancing and lockdowns, it is even more important that we know what to look for when seeing or talking to our patients.
Think: Is the patient vulnerable, are they at high risk?
It is ever important to be aware of other impacts of COVID-19. If the patient is shielding, do they have reduced access to shopping, or reduced access to professionals who could identify early signs or risks of malnutrition? Many adults at risk of malnutrition could be missed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many older people think that a reduction in food and drink intake is normal as they are less active, however weight loss should not be considered a normal part of ageing.
Consequences of malnutrition
Evidence shows that an elderly person suffering from malnutrition are:
Twice as likely to see their GP
Have more hospital admissions
Stay in the hospital longer
Experience more co-morbidities
The health and wellbeing of our patients are at the centre of every assessment and consultation we do. Preventing our patients from becoming sick due to malnutrition is of critical importance, especially during this current pandemic. Take the time to ask some questions about your patients’ appetite, how they get their shopping, whether they have lost weight, whether they feel hungry etc., document your findings and refer for advice if you are in doubt.
If you have any further questions about the Coronavirus vaccine, signs or symptoms of malnutrition or how you can source locum or clinician work in primary or acute care - or even via remote telemedicine working shifts - we would be happy to talk to you about it!