title: Prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch hospital outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of undernutrition in hospital inpatients is high. Earlier detection and treatment in the hospital outpatient clinic may help to reduce these numbers. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition in hospital outpatients in the Netherlands, to determine high risk departments, and to determine the percentage of patients receiving dietetic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in nine hospitals. Patients who visited the outpatient clinic on one of the screening days in the period March-May 2008 received a short questionnaire and were weighed. Patients were classified as severely undernourished, moderately undernourished or not undernourished.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2288 patients were included in the study, of which 5% were severely undernourished and 2% were moderately undernourished. The prevalence of severe undernutrition was highest in the outpatient departments of oral maxillofacial surgery (17%), oncology (10%), rehabilitation (8%), gastroenterology (7%) and pulmonology (7%). Only 17% of all severely undernourished and 4% of all moderately undernourished patients reported to receive dietetic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of undernutrition in hospital outpatients is generally low but largely undertreated. Future screening should focus on high risk departments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.leistra@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leistra
authors.forename: Floor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neelemaat
authors.forename: Anja M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: Myriam H W M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Zandvoort
authors.forename: Peter J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weijs
authors.forename: Marian A E
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Hinke M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kruizenga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult