Health Affairs April 2, 2025
Malnutrition, defined as the “inadequate intake of nutrients, particularly protein, over time,” affects 20 percent to 50 percent of hospitalized patients despite only 8 percent being diagnosed. Malnutrition has been shown to increase hospital costs (34 percent more) and 30-day readmission rates (54 percent higher) compared to hospitalizations in patients without a malnutrition diagnosis. Addressing malnutrition through targeted nutrition interventions improves outcomes and reduces costs, directly supporting value-based care goals. For example, in one study, a multihospital accountable care organization (ACO) that optimized malnutrition care achieved a 27 percent reduction in 30-day readmission rates, while another nutrition-focused quality improvement program generated $4.8 million in cost savings. Evidence demonstrates the power of nutrition-focused quality improvement initiatives in enhancing performance on quality...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor