Tag: Malnutrition markers

Malnutrition is a common and often under-diagnosed issue in clinical settings, with estimates suggesting it affects a significant percentage of hospitalized patients. Therefore, understanding what lab could indicate poor nutritional status is a critical step in both diagnosis and monitoring, though it requires interpreting results carefully alongside a patient's overall clinical picture.

Historically, single lab tests like serum albumin were used to assess nutrition, but experts now agree there is no single best marker for chronic protein energy malnutrition. A more comprehensive, multi-faceted approach is necessary for accurate diagnosis, especially given the confounding effects of inflammation.