Abstract

MARINHO, Aníbal et al. Disease-Related Malnutrition and its Repercussions in Portugal. Medicina Interna [online]. 2019, vol.26, n.1, pp.60-66. ISSN 0872-671X.  https://doi.org/10.24950/rspmi/revisao/91/1/2019.

Disease-related malnutrition is clinically common, with a high morbidity, mortality and quality of life impact in medical specialties like internal medicine, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology and pediatrics, among others. Studies in Portugal have estimated that about 40% of patients are at nutritional risk at hospital admission, depending on disease condition and stage/severity. The hospitalization costs for treating these patients is in average 20% higher than the respective not atrisk diagnosis-related group. The access to an adequate evaluation, counseling and nutritional treatment for malnourished patients is still limited in our country, even in the hospital setting. A detailed knowledge of disease-related malnutrition in the above mentioned medical specialties would allow to better characterize the situation in Portugal, to establish clinical and therapeutic intervention plans in order to improve the situation and consequences in our country.

Keywords : Hospital Costs; Malnutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional Status.

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