Description

Malnutrition can result in a variety of abnormalities, the severity of which may be proportional to the degree of deficiency.


 

 

Mild Malnutrition

Moderate Malnutrition

Severe Malnutrition

Percent Ideal Body Weight

80-90%

70-79%

< 70%

Percent of Usual Body Weight

90-95%

80-89%

< 80%

Albumin (g/dL)

2.8-3.4

2.1-2.7

< 2.1

Transferrin (mg/dL)

150 - 200

100 - 149

< 100

Total Lymphocyte Count (per µL)

1200 - 2000

800 - 1199

< 800

Cell Mediated Immunity (Delayed Type Hypersensitivity)

reactive

reactive

anergic

 

Weight Criteria for Assessing Nutritional Risk

 

Weight Loss

Mild Malnutrition

Moderate Malnutrition

Severe Malnutrition

Total

5-15%

15-25%

> 25%; lethal when >40%

Loss in 1 week

0 - 1%

1-2%

> 2%

Loss in 1 month

< 5%

5%

> 5%

Loss in 3 months

< 7.5%

7.5%

> 7.5%

Loss in 6 months

< 10%

10%

> 10%

 

where:

• percent weight loss =

= ((((usual body weight) - (current body weight)) / (usual body weight)) * 100)

• percent ideal body weight =

= ((actual weight) / (ideal body weight)) * 100

• percent usual body weight =

= ((actual weight) / (usual body weight)) * 100

 

Limitations:

• Many conditions can result in over- or underestimation of deficiency.

• Underestimation of deficiency may occur in: fluid overload, recent massive transfusion, recent massive albumin infusion, and lymphocytosis.

• Overestimation of deficiency may occur in: immunodeficiency states, with immunosuppression, after chemotherapy, or with myelosuppression.

 


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