Malnutrition

Topic 3 (a): Malnutrition Associated with Specific Health Conditions
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Topic 3 (a): Malnutrition Associated with Specific Health Conditions
Malnutrition is a disorder that arises if the body does not get the right quantity of nutrients to sustain its well-being. According to World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is projected to contribute to about one-third of childhood deaths. Emaciated patients are more vulnerable to illness. The objective of this study is to explore the specific health conditions that escalate the risk of malnutrition.
According to Sheard et al. (2013), there is little research done to understand the link between malnutrition and Parkinson disease (PD) and what can be done to mitigate it. To address this gap, a study was done and people with PD above 18 years were enlisted. The total analyzed sample had 125 participants. The nutritive level was taken by a dietitian using the global valuation tool (SGA), and the number of articles located was 18.
The article addresses Under-nourishment linked to Parkinson’s illness by sampling people with the disease. The type of research conducted is quantitative. The results showed that the participants who were well-fed had considerably higher anthropometric measures than the ones who are underfed. Parkinson’s patients are more threatened by malnutrition thus why the article was chosen to ascertain the correlation between nutrition and Parkinson disease.
Summary of the evidence is that Anthropometric values are closely related to nutrition, this information is essential to medical personnel such as a nutritionist, to help them develop a nutrition plan for Parkinson patients.

The knowledge that proper nutrition positively affects patients with Parkinson does not only empower but also reduces the gap of ignorance. One of the limitations of the evidence is that the study did not have a standard quota of nutritive status against which to compare other parameters. In its place, the SGA was used as the standard which may have prejudiced the results.
The information got is essential to PD patients, the doctors who deal with these cases and all people since they are potential Parkinson patients. This information can be shared through publication in the PD newsletter, word of mouth and medical journals. Resources needed to accomplish sharing evidence include organizations and institutions. The nursing profession has regular contact with Parkinson patients, and hence the evidence is valuable to them.
Besides Parkinson disease, additional health disorders that escalate the risk of malnutrition comprise of Low appetite, Respiration conditions such as emphysema, Poor dental formula, and endocrine conditions such as diabetes. In future research should be done to establish the link between these conditions and malnutrition and mitigation measures; the findings of such study will be helpful to the medical field.
In conclusion, malnutrition is still undetected within persons who have Parkinson’s illness and other disorders that escalate the risk of malnutrition. Systematic checking of dietary levels in persons with this disease by medical experts is necessary to detect those who would need supplementary nutrition valuation.
Reference
Sheard, J. M., Ash, S., Mellick, G. D., Silburn, P. A., & Kerr, G. K. (2013). Malnutrition in a sample of community-dwelling people with Parkinson’s disease. PloS one, 8(1), e53290.