Indicators of poor nutritional status in older Americans.

Physicians need to be alert to indicators of poor nutritional status in older patients. These indicators include physical signs, specific symptoms or sets of symptoms, and measurable parameters that indicate poor nutritional status is already present and is causing some effect (although the effect may not be symptomatic and may not be quantifiable). Indicators of poor nutritional status may be detected by interviewing an elderly patient or his or her caregivers, by observing the patient in his or her environment, or by physically examining the patient and/or making specific measurements, including laboratory tests. Since some of these indicators are sensitive to change in the nutritional status over time, they may be potentially useful in confirming the improvement or deterioration in nutritional status.