Interpretation of ESPEN practical guideline Nutritional Support for Polymorbid Medical Inpatients
1Liu Miao,1Yu Yuan,2Cong Minghua
1Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center/ National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/ Cancer Hospital Chinese
Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100021 China
2Department of Comprehensive Care National
Cancer Center/ National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/ Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union
Medical College Beijing 100021 China
Abstract：Chronic polymorbidity refers to the situation where an individual suffers from two or more chronic diseases which has a
huge burden on the patient's physical and psychological health. Currently with the increasing aging of the global population and the
rising prevalence of chronic diseases the incidence of chronic polymorbidity is rising year by year becoming a serious global public
health problem. Patients with polymorbidity are prone to disease-related malnutrition and nutritional support can reduce the incidence
of polymorbidity and other complications and reduce the impact on disease prognosis. In 2024 the European Society for Clinical
Nutrition and Metabolism published the latest edition of the ESPEN practical guideline Nutritional support for polymorbid medical
inpatients. Based on the 2018 guideline this guideline provides the latest available evidence and expert opinion and the content is
presented in the form of decision flowcharts making it more intuitive and concise. The guideline proposes 32 recommendations for
nutritional screening individualized nutritional support nutrient requirement estimation early nutritional support post - discharge
nutritional support and monitoring and nutritional support organizational management reform providing very important reference
opinions for nutritional support for patients with polymorbidity. This article interprets the guidelines and reclassifies the
recommendations aiming to enhance understanding help medical professionals better understand and apply and promote the effective
implementation of the guidelines.
