Read the consensus statement of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: Characteristics recommended for the identification and documentation of adult malnutrition

Question

Explain the differences between malnutrition associated with chronic disease and malnutrition associated with acute illness and inflammation.

Answer 1

Malnutrition associated with chronic disease - this includes chronic diseases or conditions that have sustained mild to moderate inflammation (organ failure, pancreatic cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, etc.)
• Loss in lean body mass is gradual and can eventually reach significant depletion over time (several months). With nutritional intervention, lean body mass loss is slowed or potentially reversed.
• Positive response to nutrition intervention also requires successful medical treatment of underlying disease.
Malnutrition associated with acute illness and inflammation - this includes acute diseases or injury states with acute and severe inflammatory responses (major infection, burns, trauma, or closed head injury)
• Significant depletion of lean body mass occurs over a short period of time (<1 month) without nutritional intervention. There are persistent signs of inflammation. With nutritional intervention, lean body mass loss is slowed, but still occurs if inflammation persists.
• Priority of nutrition intervention is to provide nutrients to support organ system function and preserve immune function while acute medical treatment is provided.