Rocketing cases of malnutrition in Tayside must be tackled, a leading charity has warned.
Shocking new figures uncovered by The Courier reveal that the number of patients diagnosed with the “third world” condition in the region has more than doubled in the past five years.
Age Scotland believes the dramatic rise could be down to a “heating or eating” dilemma facing many pensioners.
The charity has urged the Scottish Government and NHS Tayside to ensure safeguards are put in place with immediate effect.
A total of 182 people were discharged from NHS Tayside hospitals with a primary diagnosis of malnutrition last year, compared to 81 in 2006.
Angus fared worst last year, with 71 recorded cases, while there were 67 in Dundee City and 44 in Perth and Kinross.
In the same five-year period eight people died in the region because of malnutrition.
Responding to a freedom of information request, the health board said it was unable to break down the figures to show which age ranges were worst affected.’Heating or eating’However recent Age Scotland research confirmed over-65s were more susceptible. Spokesman Doug Anthoney said, “About two in every three single pensioner households are fuel poor, making the ‘heating or eating’ dilemma very real for many older people.
“It would be no surprise if more older patients are arriving in hospital malnourished.
“NHS Tayside must ensure older people in hospital are offered food they can eat and provide them with support to shop for, prepare and eat healthy meals back in their own homes.
“Malnutrition will have built up over a period of time, often as the result of an underlying disease or condition that may mean that appetite is suppressed, or that food cannot be taken or swallowed, or that the body cannot process that food properly.
“Malnutrition may also be brought about by other factors such as immobility, depression, social isolation or in many cases a complex mix of all these.
“Age Scotland believes that what is important is that those at risk are identified and an appropriate care plan is implemented to boost nutritional status.”
The definition of malnutrition used in the analysis included diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, nutritional deficiencies (eg vitamin A, thiamine and calcium deficiencies), nutritional anaemias and malnutrition related diabetes mellitus.
Scottish Conservative candidate for Perthshire North Murdo Fraser said, “I am appalled to hear of the recent figures released by NHS Tayside showing the extent of malnutrition in Tayside.
“The number of patients with diagnosed malnutrition has more than doubled in the last five years, to almost 200. This is a shockingly high number.
“In the 21st century we should be seeing fewer people, if any, being diagnosed with this third world condition in Scotland, not a steady year-on-year increase…
“In the same way, parents rely on the invaluable service provided by health visitors across Scotland, and further investment in this service will allow greater interaction and support for parents, allowing the early signs of malnutrition to be picked up and treated at a young age.”The statistics were derived from the ISD linked ACaDMe database containing linked discharge records from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals in Scotland (SMR01) and General Register Office for Scotland (GRO) death records. NHS Tayside’s freedom of information officer said improved coding methods (the number of diagnoses that are recorded) over the time period may have artificially increased the number of recorded cases of malnutrition on hospital records.