July 28, 2014
Starvation in the midst of plenty... Illawarra leading the way in addressing malnutrition in the elderly
Researchers from UOW and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District have teamed up to develop novel ways to address malnutrition in senior citizens, with figures showing that a third of patients aged 65 and older who are admitted to hospital in the Illawarra are overtly malnourished, while a further 50 per cent are at high nutritional risk.
“What is most concerning is that most of these patients are discharged home in a poor nutritional state, where a downward spiral of ill health may result,” UOW public health nutrition academic Associate Professor Karen Charlton, said.
“The poor referral systems between hospital and community services means that many frail older people fall between the gaps, and are left to fare for themselves,” she added.
Using the world’s largest databases of nutritional assessment in older patients that has been collected by hospital dietitians, a research team led by Professor Charlton recently found that malnutrition is associated with longer hospital stays, recurrent hospital admissions, and poor clinical outcomes, with a threefold risk of mortality after 12-18 months.
“Malnutrition increases the risk of falls, osteoporosis, fractures, chronic disease, prolonged hospitalisation, and increased complications, all of which heighten the risk of premature mortality and reduced quality of life,” Professor Charlton said.
Research Director of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Dr Marianna Milosavljevic, said that General Practitioners could play a crucial role in the early identification and management of malnutrition.
“We are confident that people at-risk of malnutrition are identified and referred to a dietitian during their hospital stay. However, when they go home, that is when things tend to fall apart. They may feel too ill or frail to shop or prepare their own meals, experience poor appetites, or even forget to eat if there is confusion or some cognitive decline.”
“Getting General Practitioners involved so that they also recognise the problem is key,” Dr Milosavljevic said.
Professor Charlton and her team have been testing a model of care at three General Practices in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region, which has shown promising results. She said with the diverse range of expertise and research currently taking place in the Illawarra, the region is poised to tackle the problem of how to identify and address malnutrition in older people in the community – which can hopefully be used as a model nationally.
“The whole picture is coming together now – our vision is that the Illawarra region will provide the best services possible to its older residents,” Professor Charlton said.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and the University of Wollongong are currently offering Illawarra residents the chance to participate in a 3-month lifestyle program especially designed for older people living in the community. The SUSTAIN program, which is funded by the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, has been designed to help people that have had a hospital stay over the past 12 months to get back on track. It has been developed by physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dietitians from the local health service, and provides advice on activities to make daily living easier. There is no cost involved. Interested participants can contact Professor Karen Charlton on +61 434 077189 or islhdresearch@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au before 8 August for more information.
Media contact: Associate Professor Karen Charlton, +61 2 4221 4754.