PROTEIN-CALORIE MALNUTRITION IN THE ELDER LY

Over recent years, the cost of health care for the elderly has imposed an increasingly heavy burden on the French National Social Security s ystem. At the same time, advances in medical care allow an increasing number of recently retired individuals to enjoy good health. This appa rent paradox demonstrates that the elderly population is in fact heter ogeneous, with some individuals remaining healthy despite the aging pr ocess and others requiring repeated use of medical services. Identific ation of the factors associated with a high level of use of medical se rvices in the elderly is therefore an important goal. Among these fact ors, one of the most important is inadequate nutrition, which is commo n in institutionalized subjects. The rate of occurrence, causes (anore xia, increased metabolism) and pathophysiology of malnutrition in geri atric patients are reviewed herein. Nutritional support is an essentia l component of the management of geriatric patients, both as a prevent ive measure and as part of the treatment of geriatric diseases.