The Age: Annabel Stafford

MORE than a fifth of elderly people admitted to hospital are malnourished and 41 per cent are at risk of malnutrition, according to a study by Western Health Service in Victoria. It calls for screening for people at risk.

Just over half the malnourished patients had been admitted from other hospitals or nursing homes, as had about a third of those who were at risk of becoming malnourished, according to the study.

It analysed 75 patients admitted to the aged care and rehabilitation unit of the Williamstown Hospital over a three-month period in 2004. The study also found that 62 per cent of patients improved when given nutritional supplements for 30 days.

Malnutrition among the elderly is linked to higher death rates, reduced immunity, increased risk of falls, ulcers, infection and longer stays in hospital.

One of the study's authors, Western Health manager of nutrition Kathryn Pierce, said it showed the need for a far greater awareness of malnutrition as a problem among older people.

Ms Pierce said Western Health hospitals would be encouraged to improve identification of people at risk of becoming malnourished.

Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal said the findings were "astounding" and that such malnutrition could be avoided through "basic interventions (known) from Florence Nightingale's time".

One difficulty, he said, was insufficient staff to make sure people were eating properly.

"The food might have the right constituents, but people don't eat them because they don't taste good."