[Malnutrition in the elderly]

Abstract

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in the elderly populations: 4% in the community and near by 50% in the hospital or the long-term care facilities. Insufficient dietary intake results from loneliness, ignorance, impaired functional capacities and iatrogenic conditions. In case of acute injury or infection, stress reaction activates cytokine-induced metabolic events that impair nutritional status. There is a physiological anorexia with aging, but aging alone is not responsible for malnutrition. Diseases, psychological conditions and environmental factors are taken in account to treat malnutrition. Ethical considerations are necessary before tube-feeding decisions in a malnourished aged patient.