Recent reports show that the prevalence of under nutrition in
hospitalized older patients is between 30% and 60%
(Gazzotti et al. 2003). About 40% of older patients are malnourished on admission (Teo &Wynne 2001). More than
60% of patients’ nutritional status deteriorates during the
period of hospitalization, with those who are malnourished
on admission particularly affected (Schenker 2003).