Comment dépister la dénutrition chez la personne âgée ?

The prevalence of malnutrition is high in elderly subjects, due to age-related diseases, disability, and social isolation among other causes. Nutritional supplementation is efficacious in improving weight, and in reducing complications and mortality in the hospital. Screening relies on looking for clinical situations that lead to an increase in the risk of malnutrition, assessment of appetite, and measurement of nutritional markers (weight, body mass index [BMI]). The Mini nutritional assessment (MNA®) is a questionnaire that has been specifically designed to screen malnutrition in the elderly. Diagnosis of malnutrition can be done by measuring weight loss, BMI, albuminemia or using MNA® score. Screening and measure of nutritional markers must lead to nutritional supplementation.