For individuals dealing with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the simple act of eating and absorbing nutrients can become a complex challenge.
IBD, which encompasses conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can lead to chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, ultimately resulting in malnutrition.
This state of malnourishment is linked to a higher risk of health complications and mortality. Recent research underscores the pressing need for immediate dietitian support within IBD clinics.
A study, featured in Gastro Hep Advances, conducted by Aaron C. Viser and Adelaide R. Cooke, focused on screening IBD patients for malnutrition using a validated tool.
This screening took place at UNC’s Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic in Chapel Hill, NC, between June 7, 2022, and July 19, 2022. A total of 237 IBD patients participated in the screening, revealing that 14% of them were at high risk for malnutrition.
The prevalence of positive malnutrition screenings was 15% for Crohn’s disease patients and 12% for ulcerative colitis patients.
Dr. Anne F. Peery, corresponding author and associate professor of medicine at the UNC School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of this study, noting that healthcare providers often have limited time during clinic visits and many issues to address. Malnutrition can easily be overlooked in this setting.
The malnutrition screening tool used in the study consisted of three questions designed to assess whether a patient met the criteria.
This brief, three-minute survey included questions such as whether the patient had experienced unexplained weight loss and if they had been eating poorly due to a decreased appetite.
Notably, a significant portion of the patients in the study had a normal or overweight body mass index, highlighting that malnutrition risk can develop regardless of body weight.
Common symptoms of IBD include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, low energy, and loss of appetite, all of which are indicative of active disease. The study found that 28% of patients experiencing an IBD flare met the criteria for malnutrition.
Among those with a positive malnutrition screening, 28% had active disease, and 8% were in remission. These findings underscore the pivotal role of registered dietitians in the care of IBD patients in clinical settings.
Dr. Peery, who also serves as the director of the Adult Inpatient Nutrition Support Team in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Department of Medicine, stressed that a positive malnutrition screening should trigger an immediate formal nutrition assessment.
Having a registered dietitian on-site in the clinic can bridge this gap in care and assist in devising a plan to meet the patient’s nutritional requirements. The presence of a dedicated dietitian has significantly improved patient care in the GI clinic.
Looking ahead, Dr. Peery suggested that involving clinic staff who interact with patients during their visits in the screening process for malnutrition could enhance patient care further.
This study reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to IBD care, emphasizing that registered dietitians play a crucial role in identifying deficiencies, estimating energy and protein needs, and developing comprehensive nutrition plans for patients with IBD.
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The research findings can be found in Gastro Hep Advances.
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