HNC Supports AHRQ’s Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review
November 11, 2021
HNC Supports AHRQ’s Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review
The Healthcare Nutrition Council (HNC) applauds the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) publication of Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review.[i] Malnutrition is widely recognized as having a significant role in health outcomes and healthcare costs, and addressing malnutrition is essential to improving quality of care and outcomes for patients. Malnutrition has been shown to lead to increased complications, longer hospitalizations, and more readmissions for patients being treated in facility settings. AHRQ’s publication serves to reinforce these findings, concluding that “evidence shows an association between malnutrition and increased mortality and prolonged length of hospital stay among hospitalized patients identified as malnourished.” Furthermore, “evidence indicates malnutrition-focused hospital-initiated interventions likely reduce mortality and may improve quality of life compared to usual care among patients diagnosed with malnutrition.” HNC continues to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) and other interested organizations on the development of quality measures in malnourished hospital adults. AHRQ’s publication will provide significant support for the development of these measures moving forward.
[i]Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Comparative Effectiveness Review Number 249, Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review, October 13, 2021.