title: Malnutrition: etiology, consequences, and assessment of a patient at risk.
abstract: Malnutrition results from the imbalance of nutrients and energy provided to the body (too low), relative to its needs (too high). These needs increase dramatically with illness. This is certainly the case for patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Sub-optimal dietary intake, metabolic stress, malabsorption and increased nutrient demands, put a patient with gastrointestinal disease, at high-risk for malnutrition. The causes, consequences and assessment and monitoring indicators of malnutrition are reviewed herein.
authors.affiliation: Royal Alexandra Hospital, Capital Health Region, 670-1 CSC, 10240 Kingsway Ave, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T5H 3V9. calberda@cha.ab.ca
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alberda
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCargar
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018570:Risk Assessment