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10 Key Facts: The Clinical Impact of Malnutrition

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Nutrition is a powerful role in helping patients heal, maintain strength, and achieve the best possible outcomes. Yet malnutrition remains a persistent and under-recognized challenge in healthcare, particularly among older adults.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are uniquely positioned to identify nutritional needs early and integrate meaningful nutrition support into treatment plans. When older adults receive the right nutritional care, we often see improved recovery, shorter hospital stays, and greater resilience as they return to everyday life. By championing proactive nutrition practices, HCPs can make an immediate and lasting impact on their patients’ well‑being and quality of life.

Through a collaboration Abbott, a global leader in evidence-based nutrition science and innovation, we are sharing ten key facts that highlight the measurable consequences of malnutrition and the proven value of early identification and intervention. These insights are grounded in clinical research and real-world healthcare data, reinforcing why nutrition care must be prioritized across the continuum.

1. Nearly 50% of patients are malnourished upon hospital admission¹.

Many patients arrive at hospital already nutritionally compromised due to chronic illness, aging, or limited access to adequate food. Malnutrition often goes unnoticed without formal screening.

2. Malnourished patients experience longer hospital stays and higher associated costs².

Research conducted in Canadian hospitals found that close to half of adult patients admitted to medical or surgical units for longer than two days show signs of malnutrition. Many arrive with pre‑existing nutritional challenges related to chronic illness, aging, or limited access to adequate food. Formal screening is often required to identify these concerns.

3. Malnutrition is linked to higher readmission³ and mortality rates⁴.

Evidence shows that malnourished patients are about twice as likely to be readmitted and have up to eight times higher mortality risk compared to well‑nourished patients. These outcomes underscore the clinical significance of identifying and managing malnutrition.

4. Low nutritional intake during the first week of hospitalization is associated with prolonged length of stay⁵.

Inadequate nutritional intake early in a hospital stay has been found to correlate with extended hospitalization, emphasizing the importance of timely nutrition assessment and intervention.

5. Screening within 24 hours of admission supports earlier identification and care planning.

Early nutrition screening increases the likelihood of detecting at‑risk patients promptly, enabling care teams to initiate appropriate nutrition interventions..

6. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is widely recognized for diagnosing malnutrition.

SGA is an internationally validated assessment tool used to evaluate nutritional status and inform clinical decision‑making across diverse care settings.

7. Malnutrition can contribute to muscle loss and may progress to frailty⁶.

Loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) is a potential consequence of malnutrition and can affect strength, mobility, and independence.

8. Early nutrition support is associated with improved short‑term outcomes⁷.

Individualized nutrition interventions, including strategies to enhance oral intake and use of oral nutritional supplements, have been shown to improve survival and reduce adverse events within 30 days.

9. Frailty affects a significant number of Canadians⁸ and is associated with poor nutrition.
More than 1.6 million Canadians experience frailty, and research shows a frequent overlap between frailty and malnutrition, particularly in older adults. Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining function and preventing decline.

10. Nutrition care beyond hospital discharge supports ongoing recovery.
Continued attention to nutrition following discharge — including coordinated transitions and community‑based support — helps maintain progress and reduce risk of deterioration.

Strengthening nutrition care benefits patients and supports more efficient use of healthcare resources. We encourage Members to explore opportunities within their organizations to enhance early nutrition screening and intervention practices that can improve recovery, reduce complications, and support transitions across care settings.

To support local practice improvements, members can also access evidence‑based tools and resources from the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force.

Allard J et al. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(1):144-152.
Curtis et al. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(1):1391e1396
Lim SL et al. Clin Nutr 2012;31:345-50.
Felder S et al. Nutrition 2015;31:1385-93.
Allard JP et al.. JPEN 2016:40(4):487-97.
Prado CM et al. Clin Nutr. 2022;41(10):2244-2263.
Schuetz et al. Lancet. 2019;393:2312-21.
Canadian Frailty Network. What is frailty? Accessed March 2026. https://www.cfn-nce.ca/frailty-matters/what-is-frailty/

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