The Austrian MAW logo
In Austria, Malnutrition Awareness Week 2022 took place between the 7th and the 11th of November. A rich program was generated so numerous actions started during that time. The aim of the campaign was the Optimal Nutritional Supply and the connection with the ONCA campaign. See the overview program here.
Introduction
Many studies have shown that malnutrition is associated with negative consequences. In addition to relevant therapeutic and economic problems, such as longer hospital stays, poorer response to therapies, and increased re-hospitalization rates, malnutrition also has an impact on a personal level such as a reduction of quality of life, a negative impact on socioeconomic status, and a reduced lifespan. (Hiesmayr et al., 2019 & Rasheed and Woods, 2013).
Despite the drastic consequences of malnutrition, little attention is paid to this issue. International Nutrition Day, a global survey on nutritional therapy of hospitalized people, has shown that not even half of all patients with a history of weight loss have had their nutritional intake surveyed. Moreover, only half of the patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition are identified as malnourished. (Hiesmayr et al., 2019).
Thus, malnutrition has not received the attention it deserves for a long time. And this is not only a problem in Austria. To bring the issue of malnutrition to the spotlight, the ONCA (Optimal Nutritional Care for All) initiative is dedicated to addressing the issue of malnutrition in the population across countries.
The ONCA Campaign in Austria
To raise awareness of the issue in Austria, the ONCA Austria team, under the leadership of Dr. rer.nat. Julia Traub and the AKE (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Klinische Ernährung), initiated a malnutrition week in Austria for the first time. People who are at risk or suffer from malnutrition need immediate support in order to increase their quality of life as well as their length of life. For one week, training and information sessions were offered to address these important issues.
Future steps
Be a part of the solution, join in, talk about the disease, and help us keep the topic in the public focus in the future. The ONCA Team Austria is looking forward to active cooperation and asks for announcements of initiatives on the topic of optimal nutritional care in order to be able to publicize them on the homepage. These contributions can be sent to Anna Prisching (anna.prisching@uniklinikum.kages.at).
Activities in the MAW 2022:
7-11.11.2022
– 07.11: Webinar
Topic: Malnutrition and oncology – Preview of the new AKE recommendations
– 08.11
AKE Dialogue on Optimal Nutrition Care (ONCA) Challenges of Nutrition Care in Intra- and Extramural Settings (see the whole program in German below)
– 09.11
AKE Best Practice Award – Awarding under the aspect of optimization of nutrition/nutritional care
– 10.11
– 11.11: Webinar
Minimed contribution to malnutrition in old age, focusing on gender
Panel discussion malnutrition in Austria and AKE Award
(Day 1)
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ECKcxTi5Pw
Day 1 8/11: AKE –Dialog Optimale Ernährungsversorgung (ONCA) Herausforderungen der Ernährungsversorgung im intra- und extramuralen Setting
A multi-stakeholder initiative
Intra- und extramurale Herausforderung
AKE dialogue – Optimal Nutritional Supply
(Day 2)
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUw4AXCwqi0
References
Hiesmayr, M., Tarantino, S., Moick, S., Laviano, A., Sulz, I., Mouhieddine, M., Schuh, C., Volkert, D., Simon, J., Schindler, K., 2019. Hospital Malnutrition, a Call for Political Action: A Public Health and NutritionDay Perspective. J. Clin. Med. 8, 2048. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8122048
Rasheed, S., Woods, R.T., 2013. Malnutrition and quality of life in older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res. Rev. 12, 561–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2012.11.003
Head of clinical medical nutrition, University Hospital Graz
Contact Julia for inquiries on Austrian campaign activities and for publishing of your Good Practice on this website.
