A patient with Parkinson's disease may be at increased risk for malnutrition. A patient with Parksin's disease should have periodic nutritional assessments.
Patient selection: Parkinson's disease
Risk factors for malnutrition include:
(1) low body weight at onset of Parkinson's disease
(2) longer duration (of levodopa therapy or disease)
(3) anxiety and/or depression
(4) hyposmia
(5) anorexia
(6) rigidity dominant type with "off" states, freezing gait, or dyskinesias
(7) more severe disease
Manifestations:
(1) decreasing serum albumin concentration
(2) declining body weight over time
(3) declining mid-upper arm circumference
The weight loss may be masked if the patient is initially obese.
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