At the time of admission to the hospital, malnutrition is already present in over 20% of patients. Hospitalized patients are particularly susceptible to developing malnutrition because of increased catabolic states in acute illness and poor intake from decreased appetite, nil per os status, and impaired mental status. Malnutrition is associated with increased hospital mortality, decreased functional status and quality of life, infections, longer length of stay, higher hospital costs, and more frequent nonelective readmissions.

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