Bestimmung des Ernährungszustands

Abstract

Evaluation of Nutritional Status In the average population it is common to be overweight (above 30%), while in hospital patients it is more common to show a lack of nutrition (above 40%). Either form of malnutrition leads to an increase in morbidity as well as mortality. Analyzing the nutritional status adequately allows to implement an appropriate therapy regarding nutrition (nutritional team). The nutritional status can be measured by particular parameters or by use of nutritional scores. The aim will be to gather the data easily and inexpensively and to reveal the statements and conclusions in a sensitive and specific manner. Anthropometric, labor chemical and immunological parameters are mostly of no value as they may be affected by the underlying illness; e.g. the body mass index (BMI) is not a very sensitive measure. The significance of stress related parameters is increasing. So far, there is no ‘golden standard’ regarding the score systems, but they are to be executed without too much effort. While the ‘Subject Global Assessment’ (SGA) (‘score of condition’) mainly includes inquired data, the ‘Nutritional Risk Screening’ (NRS) also includes stress related metabolism and weight loss, and the amended ‘Innsbruck Nutrition Score’ (INS) further considers several metabolic laboratory parameters. Key factor is an estimation of the risks involved for the patients in order to allow for an appropriate nutritional therapy.