Why are malnutrition deaths soaring in America?
Yahoo••health
Key Points:
- Malnutrition is the fastest-growing cause of death in the U.S., increasing sixfold over the past decade, now comparable to deaths from arterial disease, mental disorders, and assault.
- The rise in malnutrition deaths is most pronounced among Americans aged 85 and older, who die of malnutrition at about 60 times the rate of younger populations, with deaths increasing twice as fast in this group.
- Experts attribute the surge not to worsening food insecurity but to improved diagnosis and documentation of malnutrition, driven by new clinical guidelines and increased awareness since 2012.
- Changes in healthcare policies, including Medicare and Medicaid incentives, have encouraged hospitals and care facilities to diagnose and report malnutrition more frequently, affecting mortality statistics.
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