What is severe malnutrition?

Severe malnutrition is a serious deficit or imbalance in a person’s energy intake, often causing impaired functioning. There are many chronic and acute medical conditions, as well as many non-eating disorder psychiatric conditions, that can contribute to malnutrition.

For many, malnutrition stands in the way of vital treatment options, including:

  • Organ transplant
  • Infection treatment
  • Chemotherapy and radiation
  • Surgery
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Conditions that contribute to malnutrition

Certain chronic conditions can contribute to the development of malnutrition.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Reduction of food intake and malabsorption characteristic of inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis can cause chronic malnutrition.

Cancer

Cancer, along with its treatments and medications, can disrupt taste, smell, appetite and the ability to eat enough food for weight gain or absorb the nutrients from food, causing malnutrition and loss of muscle mass.

End stage liver disease

Hypermetabolism, malabsorption, inflammation, decreased food intake and altered nutrient metabolism contribute to malnutrition in those experiencing end stage liver disease.

Non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infection

Treatments for non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) infection can cause gastrointestinal side effects that can cause poor appetite or weight loss or necessitate certain dietary restrictions. These infections are also associated with significant hypermetabolism, causing weight loss as well as making weight gain more difficult.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Loss of appetite and increased energy expenditure due to respiratory effort may cause malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Psychosis

Whether related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders, these diagnoses can often be related to restriction of nutrition for various reasons.

Malabsorption

Intestinal malabsorption can be associated with many diagnoses and is classically associated with chronic diarrhea and weight loss.

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Signs of Malnutrition

Weight loss

Prolonged malnutrition can cause weight loss. Weight loss can happen slowly or rapidly.

Weakness

Inadequate nutrition can cause a decrease in muscle mass and weakness.

Fatigue

Without adequate nutrition, those with malnutrition often feel tired or fatigued, even when they are not active.

Irritability

A malnourished state can cause changes in mood, like irritability.

Feeling cold

Loss of body fat along with other pathophysiologic adaptations to starvation can cause individuals with malnutrition to frequently feel cold.

Medical Complications of Malnutrition

Malnutrition can cause severe medical complications across all the major organ systems.

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Bradycardia

Bradycardia (heart rate under 60 beats per minute), is a common medical complication in those with

Hypotension

Changes in the autonomic nervous system associated with anorexia nervosa as well as the decreased basal metabolic rate contribute to reduced blood pressure.

Osteopenia & osteoporosis

Poor nutrition in malnourished patients can contribute to the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) is another common complication for those living with chronic malnutrition, which can cause nausea, bloating and fullness.

Electrolyte deficiencies

Chronic malnutrition can cause a deficit in electrolytes, including low phosphorous, sodium, magnesium and potassium. These deficiencies can cause a variety of neurological, cardiac, muscle, gastrointestinal and renal problems.

The emotional impact of chronic illness

Many individuals suffering from chronic illnesses struggle with their mental health. While ACUTE specializes in medical stabilization and nutritional rehabilitation, we also offer psychological support during a patient’s stay that can help them cope with chronic disease.

Major depressive disorder

People living with a chronic disease are at a higher risk of developing depression due to the stress, anxiety or other challenges caused by chronic disease.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Chronic illness can increase stress, which contributes to the development of generalized anxiety disorder.

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Malnutrition treatment

At ACUTE, we believe that everyone deserves to have the best quality of life and full access to their treatment options. For those suffering from low weight, malnutrition and medical complications due to a non-eating disorder medical condition, the key to improved quality of life and specific treatment options – like surgery – is being medically stabilized, nutritionally rehabilitated and weight restored.

To achieve these goals, we support patients with:

  • World leading medical expertise in the medical treatment of eating disorders
  • Evidence-based multidisciplinary care across internal medicine, dietetics, nursing, behavioral health, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
  • Around-the-clock 1:1 nursing supervision
  • Blood chemistry, vitals monitoring and treatments for other medical and/or surgical comorbidities
  • Air ambulance transfer when necessary

How is inpatient medical hospitalization different?

ACUTE offers the highest level of eating disorder care. Medical hospitalization is delivered in a hospital setting and is primarily focused on treating severe medical complications, although other forms of support are available. Some of the services we provide include:

  • Monitoring of vitals
  • Intravenous fluids
  • Daily lab monitoring
  • Certain types of medication management

Who does ACUTE treat?

ACUTE accepts patients who are too medically complex for lower levels of care.

  • 15+ years of age
  • All gender expressions
  • <70% of ideal body weight (IBW)
  • BMI <14.5
  • Severe medical complications associated with malnutrition

Get connected to care

Our admissions specialist can help assess your needs and determine the appropriate level of care.

Even if ACUTE isn’t right for you, our experienced admissions team can connect you with other programs that meet your needs.

ACUTE Earns Prestigious Center of Excellence Designation from Anthem
In 2018, the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition at Denver Health was honored by Anthem Health as a Center of Excellence for Medical Treatment of Severe and Extreme Eating Disorders. ACUTE is the first medical unit ever to achieve this designation in the field of eating disorders. It comes after a rigorous review process.

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