title: Estimating the costs associated with malnutrition in Dutch nursing homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malnutrition in western health care involves a tremendous burden of illness. In this study the economic implications of malnutrition in Dutch nursing homes are investigated as part of the Health and Economic Impact of Malnutrition in Europe Study from the European Nutrition for Health Alliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed, focussing on the additional time and resources spent to execute all relevant nutritional activities in nursing home patients with at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. Results were extrapolated on national level, based on the prevalence rates gathered within the national Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The normal nutritional costs are 319 million Euro per year. The total additional costs of managing the problem of malnutrition in Dutch nursing homes involve 279 million Euro per year and are related to extra efforts in nutritional screening, monitoring and treatment. The extra costs for managing nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition are 8000 euro per patient and 10000 euro for malnourished patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extra costs related to malnutrition are a considerable burden for the nursing home sector and urge for preventive measures.
authors: Department of Health Services Research, School for Public Heath and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. j.meijers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Judith M M
authors: JM
authors: Meijers
authors: Ruud J G
authors: RJ
authors: Halfens
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Wilson
authors: Jos M G A
authors: JM
authors: Schols
mesh_terms: D004046:Dietetics / Q000592:standards; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires