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Nutrition Screening: Time To Address The Skeletons In The Bedroom Closet As Well As Those In Hospitals, Karen E. Charlton

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Ever since Dr Charles Butterworth's seminal article in 1974¹ on the widespread prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalised patients and its detrimental effect on recovery, attempts have been made to improve the detection of malnutrition through screening initiatives. However, despite compelling evidence that those who are either malnourished at admission or become malnourished during their hospital stay experience increased surgical complications, greater morbidity and increased length of hospital stay^2,3 as well as higher rates of mortality at 12 months,^4,5 malnutrition often remains undetected and untreated because it is not considered to be a clinical priority. Even overt signs …