title: [Treatment of malnutrition in elderly patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although often undiagnosed, undernutrition is prevalent among elderly patients in hospitals. The effect of undernutrition is reduced mental and pulmonary function, increased prevalence of infection, and increased morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article presents an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of undernutrition in elderly patients with nonmalignant disease, based on relevant literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are no generally accepted definitions of undernutrition. Undernutrition should be suspected clinically and screened for, using anthropometric methods (body weight, body mass index, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference) or functional tests (hand dynamometry, laboratory parameters). Results from several studies indicate that nutritional intervention could increase body weight and physical capacity of patients and reduce length of hospitalisation and mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Undernutrition is common in clinical practice. Hospitalised patients should be screened for risk of undernutrition. The screening should be combined with a nutrition plan, including strategies for nutrition therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk klinikk Aker universitetssykehus 0514 Oslo. mortenmowe@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mowé
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018529:Nutritional Support