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Practice Guideline
. 2022 Apr;41(4):958-989.
doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.01.024. Epub 2022 Mar 5.

ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics

Dorothee Volkert  1 , Anne Marie Beck  2 , Tommy Cederholm  3 , Alfonso Cruz-Jentoft  4 , Lee Hooper  5 , Eva Kiesswetter  6 , Marcello Maggio  7 , Agathe Raynaud-Simon  8 , Cornel Sieber  9 , Lubos Sobotka  10 , Dieneke van Asselt  11 , Rainer Wirth  12 , Stephan C Bischoff  13
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics

Dorothee Volkert et al. Clin Nutr. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition and dehydration are widespread in older people, and obesity is an increasing problem. In clinical practice, it is often unclear which strategies are suitable and effective in counteracting these key health threats.

Aim: To provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical nutrition and hydration in older persons in order to prevent and/or treat malnutrition and dehydration. Further, to address whether weight-reducing interventions are appropriate for overweight or obese older persons.

Methods: This guideline was developed according to the standard operating procedure for ESPEN guidelines and consensus papers. A systematic literature search for systematic reviews and primary studies was performed based on 33 clinical questions in PICO format. Existing evidence was graded according to the SIGN grading system. Recommendations were developed and agreed in a multistage consensus process.

Results: We provide eighty-two evidence-based recommendations for nutritional care in older persons, covering four main topics: Basic questions and general principles, recommendations for older persons with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition, recommendations for older patients with specific diseases, and recommendations to prevent, identify and treat dehydration. Overall, we recommend that all older persons shall routinely be screened for malnutrition in order to identify an existing risk early. Oral nutrition can be supported by nursing interventions, education, nutritional counselling, food modification and oral nutritional supplements. Enteral nutrition should be initiated if oral, and parenteral if enteral nutrition is insufficient or impossible and the general prognosis is altogether favorable. Dietary restrictions should generally be avoided, and weight-reducing diets shall only be considered in obese older persons with weight-related health problems and combined with physical exercise. All older persons should be considered to be at risk of low-intake dehydration and encouraged to consume adequate amounts of drinks. Generally, interventions shall be individualized, comprehensive and part of a multimodal and multidisciplinary team approach.

Conclusion: A range of effective interventions is available to support adequate nutrition and hydration in older persons in order to maintain or improve nutritional status and improve clinical course and quality of life. These interventions should be implemented in clinical practice and routinely used.

Keywords: Dehydration; Geriatrics; Guideline; Malnutrition; Obesity; Recommendations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict of interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive.

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