Do You Know the Signs of Malnutrition?
NMAND supports Malnutrition Awareness Week
From September 19-23, 2022, the New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NMAND) will take part in Malnutrition Awareness Week(TM), an international effort to increase the awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of malnutrition in patients.
Malnutrition Awareness Week is an annual, multi-organizational campaign created by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) to focus on nutrition as a patient right and nutrition’s vital role in health and recovery.
Malnutrition, when unrecognized and untreated, results in longer hospital stays for patients, twice the need for rehab or long-term care, and a 3.4 times higher rate of hospital deaths. In addition to its human toll, malnutrition raises hospital costs by 73% and can cost an additional $10,000 in hospital readmission stays. (1)
While older adults are particularly susceptible to malnutrition, others at risk include people with infections; those with long-term health conditions including kidney disease, diabetes, and lung disease; and people with cancer, dementia, and other chronic conditions. (2)
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of malnutrition. If you, your patients/clients, or your loved one is experiencing any of these, talk to your healthcare provider:
Unplanned weight loss
Loss of appetite
Not able to eat or only able to eat small amounts
Feeling weak or tired
Swelling or fluid accumulation
We encourage our fellow New Mexican Dietitians to participate by growing their knowledge of malnutrition and by speaking up in the workplace. Whether you work in a clinical setting, public health, or other setting, chances are: malnutrition impacts your patients and clients. We urge you to utilize ASPEN’s resources to learn and share with your colleagues.
For more resources, visit www.nutritioncare/KnowTheSigns.
Governor Lujan Grisham signed a Proclamation to officially include the state of New Mexico in this week’s campaign. NMAND’s President, Debbie Luffey (right), joined Assistant Program Director of UNM’s Dietetic Internship, Diana Gonzales-Pacheco, to receive a physical copy of the proclamation.
Diana Gonzales-Pacheco (left) and Debbie Luffey (right) with the Governor’s Proclamation of Malnutrition Awareness Week 2023
References:
1. Guenter P, Abdelhadi R, Anthony P, et al. Malnutrition diagnoses and associated outcomes in hospitalized patients: United States, 2018. Nutr Clin Pract. 2021 Oct;36(5):957-969.
2. Tappenden KA, Quatrara B, Parkhurst ML, et al. Critical role of nutrition in improving quality of care: an interdisciplinary call to action to address adult hospital malnutrition. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2013;37(4):482-497.
