14 September 2012 – The costs associated with malnutrition in Europe are estimated to amount to a staggering 170 billion euro each year1 – more than double the amount spent on obesity based on figures from the UK.2 Such data and other striking evidence were collated and are now published in a new Dossier ‘Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) to Tackle Malnutrition.3
The Dossier, launched at the annual congress of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) in Barcelona (8-11 Sept 2012), contains a collation of the latest data, including key facts and insights relating to malnutrition’s causes, prevalence, and consequences. The Dossier highlights and validates the importance of screening for malnutrition in hospitals, the community and in care homes. Appropriate nutritional interventions are also highlighted as both a tool to tackle the detrimental effects of malnutrition and a potential cost saving method for European healthcare systems.
Malnutrition is a major public health concern but is not always obvious in our increasingly overweight society. Findings within the new Dossier state that as many as 33 million are at risk of malnutrition in Europe.1,4 As Europe faces economic upheaval, never has it been more important to address the strain of malnutrition on healthcare budgets.
Malnutrition is most commonly found in association with disease and can affect all age groups in hospitals, care homes and in the community. For example, as many as 1 in 3 older adults living independently are at risk of becoming malnourished.5 This can set in motion a vicious circle of events, including: - increased hospitalisation, further loss of muscle strength, increased falls and subsequent fractures, all of which lead to increased hospital readmissions – and so the cycle continues. Furthermore, a high prevalence of malnutrition is found in hospitals where it is estimated that 1 in 4 patients are already malnourished or at risk of developing malnutrition,6-12 which in turn can have negative effects on the outcomes of treatment.
Findings from the Dossier show that through regular nutritional screening, and appropriate nutritional interventions, such as ONS, the prevalence of malnutrition could be reduced.
Commenting on the issue of malnutrition, Prof Alessandro Laviano, Chairman of the Educational and Clinical Practice Committee of ESPEN, said: “Much of the public’s attention is focused on reducing obesity, but in some people, getting them to consume an appropriate quantity of nutrient dense food is not possible. Subsequently their condition becomes worse and their complications are increased. Giving high quality protein through ONS is essential to help maintain strength in some patients and ultimately, using ONS helps to relieve the financial burden on hospitals and beyond. Ignoring malnutrition and not using ONS in the short term – to save money – is misguided. It is the responsibility of the healthcare professional to ensure their patients are adequately nourished.”
Jörg Griesel, Chairman of the Medical Nutrition International Industry (MNI), said: “The fight against malnutrition is largely a battle that need not exist. There are screening models in place and ONS available which are a proven way to tackle malnutrition, but these are not always used. Evidence shows that, even when identified as malnourished, up to 50% of patients aren’t given any kind of nutritional intervention.”
For further information, please contact Tara Farrell tfarrell@webershandwick.com or Cat Macdonald
cmacdonald@webershandwick.com - +44 207 067 0204 / +44 207 067 0285
References
1. Ljungqvist O, de Man F. Under nutrition: a major health problem in Europe. Nutr Hosp 2009;24:369-70.
2. House of Commons Health Committee. Obesity: Third Report of Session 2003-04. Volume 1. London: Stationery Office. 2004.
3. Medical Nutrition International Industry. Oral nutritional supplements to tackle malnutrition: a summary of the evidence base. 3rd version. Brussels: MNI, 2012.
4. Ljungqvist O, van Gossum A, Sanz ML, de Man F. The European fight against malnutrition. Clin Nutr 2010;29:149-50. 5. Kaiser MJ, Bauer JM, Rämsch C, et al. Frequency of malnutrition in older adults: a multinational perspective using the mini nutritional assessment. J Am Geriatr Soc 2010;58:1734-8.
6. Russell C, Elia M. Nutrition screening survey in the UK in 2008: hospitals, care homes and mental health units. Redditch: BAPEN, 2009.
7. Schindler K, Pernicka E, Laviano A, et al. How nutritional risk is assessed and managed in European hospitals: a survey of 21,007 patients findings from the 2007-2008 cross-sectional nutritionDay survey. Clin Nutr 2010;29:552-9.
8. Imoberdorf R, Meier R, Krebs P, Hangartner PJ, Hess B, Stäubli M, Wegmann D, Rühlin M, Ballmer PE. Prevalence of undernutrition on admission to Swiss hospitals. Clin Nutr 2010;29:38-41.
9. Meijers JM, Schols JM, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA, Dassen T, Janssen MA, Halfens RJ. Malnutrition prevalence in The Netherlands: results of the annual dutch national prevalence measurement of care problems. Br J Nutr 2009;101:417-23.
10. Russell C, Elia M. Nutrition screening survey and audit of adults on admission to hospitals, care homes and mental health units. Redditch: BAPEN, 2008.
11. Russell C, Elia M. Nutrition screening week in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2010: hospitals, care homes and mental health units. Redditch: BAPEN, 2011.
12. Russell C, Elia M. Nutrition screening week in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2011: hospitals, care homes and mental health units. Redditch: BAPEN, 2012.
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Note to editor
About MNI
The Medical Nutrition International Industry (MNI), founded in 2006, is the international trade
association for companies providing products and services that support patient management and
rehabilitation by the appropriate use of specialised nutritional solutions, including both parenteral
and enteral nutrition. For more information, please visit www.medicalnutritionindustry.com.
About The European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN)
The aims of ESPEN are to encourage the rapid diffusion of knowledge and its application in the field
of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition or, more broadly, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. It promotes
experimental and clinical research, fosters high ethical standards of practice and investigation, and
promotes contact between investigators and clinicians in related fields. Find out more:
http://www.espen.org/
For more information http://www.medicalnutritionindustry.com