Between 20% and 30% of hospitalized patients in Germany suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to complications and reduced quality of life. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, leads to muscle mass loss, and prolongs recovery times, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths annually. Children and adolescents with disease-associated malnutrition also face significant health impacts, including impaired development and increased susceptibility to infections. Effective treatment options exist, but financial pressures hinder high-quality nutritional care in hospitals. The German Society for Nutritional Medicine advocates for mandatory measures, such as quality contracts for hospitals and qualified nutrition teams, to address the issue of malnutrition in Germany.
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Up to 30% of Patients in German Hospitals Are Malnourished
