Defining Undernutrition (Malnutrition) in Older Persons

Undernutrition in older adults.

Undernutrition in older persons usually presents as weight loss and is predominantly due to protein energy wasting. The presentation of undernutrition is often subtle in older persons and there is a need to utilize screening tools and increasing physician awareness. There are multiple treatable causes of undernutrition in older persons. The major causes are anorexia, cachexia, sarcopenia, dehyd...

Undernutrition and severe acute malnutrition in children

Assessment of malnutrition in older persons: a focus on the Mini Nutritional Assessment.

Pain in Older Persons

Timely topics in pain research and treatment have been selected for publication, but the information provided and opinions expressed in this newsletter have not involved any verification by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) or the SIG on Pain in Older Persons of the findings, conclusions and opinions stated in this publication. Thus, opinions expressed in this publicati...

Anemia in older persons.

Anemia in older persons is commonly overlooked despite mounting evidence that low hemoglobin levels are a significant marker of physiologic decline. Using the World Health Organization definition of anemia (hemoglobin level less than 13 g per dL [130 g per L] in men and less than 12 g per dL [120 g per L] in women), more than 10 percent of persons older than 65 years are anemic. The prevalence ...