Polypharmacy and malnutrition.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Malnutrition and polypharmacy increase with age and polymorbidity and their relationship is based on a number of mechanisms. The occurrence of malnutrition in both in-patients and out-patients and its dependence on polymorbidity and age are well known, but the interrelation of polypharmacy and malnutrition has been far less investigated. The countries with the highest occurrence of polypharmacy in Europe include the Czech Republic and Finland, whereas the lowest prevalence of polypharmacy is found in Norway and the Netherlands.

RECENT FINDINGS

The occurrence, consequences and mutual relationship of malnutrition and polypharmacy are described. Up-to-date knowledge regarding the influence of drugs on nutritional status is summarized.

SUMMARY

The effect of polypharmacy on nutrition is suggested from the observations that problems with nutrition occur mostly in elderly patients, and that such patients are more frequently subject to polypharmacy. It is known that about 65% of hospitalized patients have a worse nutritional status than their healthy contemporaries. A worsened nutritional status may adversely influence the process of treatment.