Defining malnutrition: Mission or mission impossible?

Meijers, Judith M.M.; van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren, Marian A.E.; Schols, Jos M.G.A.; Soeters, Peter B.; Halfens, Ruud J.G.

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2009.06.012

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Volume 26, Issue 4 , Pages 432-440, April 2010

Defining malnutrition: Mission or mission impossible?

Judith M.M. Meijers, R.N., Ph.D.
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health Care and Nursing Science, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-43-388-1707; fax: +31-43-388-4162.
Marian A.E. van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren, R.D., Ph.D.
- VU University Medical Centre, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jos M.G.A. Schols, M.D., Ph.D.
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of General Practice, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Peter B. Soeters, M.D., Ph.D.
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Ruud J.G. Halfens, Ph.D.
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health Care and Nursing Science, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Received 13 January 2009; accepted 19 June 2009. published online 03 December 2009.

Abstract

Objective

Although screening for malnutrition in health care has expanded enormously, a gold standard for the optimal definition and operationalism of malnutrition is still lacking. This report reflects expert opinions on the elements of the definition and operationalism of malnutrition and is meant to trigger further debate within the nutritional societies.

Methods

A Delphi study was performed consisting of three phases. After a literature review (phase 1), questions for a semistructured interviews (phase 2) were formulated. Subsequently, the results of these semistructured interviews were used to develop the final list of elements (for defining and operationalism of malnutrition). In phase 3 (final phase), experts were asked to provide written feedback regarding the ranking of elements concerning the importance of these elements.

Results

Twenty-two experts (response 73.3%) were included in the final phase of this Delphi study. No overall agreement could be reached. The elements deficiencies of energy or protein and decrease in fat-free mass were most often mentioned to be particularly important in defining malnutrition. Elements mentioned to be important in operationalism of malnutrition were involuntary weight loss, body mass index, and no nutritional intake. Opinions on cutoff points regarding these elements differed strongly among experts.

Conclusion

This study shows that there is no full agreement among experts on the elements defining and operationalism of malnutrition. The results of this study may fuel the discussion within the nutritional societies, which will most ideally lead to an international consensus on a definition and operationalism of malnutrition.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Elements, Definition, Operationalism, Expert panel