Background: A nationwide, prospective, multicenter, cohort study (the Disease-Related caloric-protein malnutrition EChOgraphy (DRECO) study) was designed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound of the rectus femoris for detecting sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition and to define cut-off values of ultrasound measures. Methods: Patients at risk of malnutrition according to the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) underwent handgrip dynamometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and rectus femoris ultrasound studies. European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria were used to define categories of sarcopenia (at risk, probable, confirmed, severe). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to determine the optimal diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of cut-off points of the ultrasound measures for the detection of risk of sarcopenia and probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia. Results: A total of 1000 subjects were included and 991 of them (58.9% men, mean age 58.5 years) were evaluated. Risk of sarcopenia was detected in 9.6% patients, probable sarcopenia in 14%, confirmed sarcopenia in 9.7%, and severe sarcopenia in 3.9%, with significant differences in the distribution of groups between men and women (p < 0.0001). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris showed a significantly positive correlation with body cell mass of BIA and handgrip strength, and a significant negative correlation with TUG. Cut-off values were similar within each category of sarcopenia, ranging between 2.40 cm² and 3.66 cm² for CSA, 32.57 mm and 40.21 mm for the X-axis, and 7.85 mm and 10.4 mm for the Y-axis. In general, these cut-off values showed high sensitivities, particularly for the categories of confirmed and severe sarcopenia, with male patients also showing better sensitivities than women. Conclusions: Sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition was high. Cut-off values for the better sensitivities and specificities of ultrasound measures of the rectus femoris are established. The use of ultrasound of the rectus femoris could be used for the prediction of sarcopenia and be useful to integrate nutritional study into real clinical practice.

Background: Hip fractures are prevalent among older people, often leading to reduced mobility, muscle loss, and bone density decline. Malnutrition exacerbates the prognosis post surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week regimen of a high-calorie, high-protein oral supplement with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HC-HP-HMB-ONS) on nutritional status, daily activities, and compliance in malnourished or at-risk older patients with hip fractures receiving standard care. Subjects and Methods: A total of 270 subjects ≥75 years of age, residing at home or in nursing homes, malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and post hip fracture surgery, received HC-HP-HMB-ONS for 12 weeks. Various scales and questionnaires assessed outcomes. Results: During the 12 weeks of follow-up, 82.8% consumed ≥75% of HC-HP-HMB-ONS. By week 12, 62.4% gained or maintained weight (+0.3 kg), 29.2% achieved normal nutritional status (mean MNA score +2.8), and 46.8% improved nutritional status. Biochemical parameters improved significantly. Subjects reported good tolerability (mean score 8.5/10), with 87.1% of healthcare providers concurring. Conclusions: The administration of HC-HP-HMB-ONS markedly enhanced nutritional status and biochemical parameters in older hip-fracture patients, with high compliance and tolerability. Both patients and healthcare professionals expressed satisfaction with HC-HP-HMB-ONS.

Background: Malabsorption syndrome is characterized by chronic diarrhea, abdominal distension, and malnutrition, thereby complicating its diagnosis and treatment. Oligomeric enteral formulas, designed to facilitate absorption in patients with compromised bowel function, have shown clinical efficacy, though their implementation lacks standardization due to the lack of uniform protocols. Objective: To establish a multidisciplinary consensus on the use of oligomeric formulas in patients with malabsorption using a Delphi methodology. Material and Method: A Delphi study was conducted with 156 specialists in endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology, and internal medicine. Two rounds of structured surveys assessed clinical practices, associated symptoms, and the use of oligomeric enteral formulas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, defining consensus with a median of ≥7 and an interquartile range of ≤3. Likewise, a Median (MED) score of ≤3 was considered as a consensus to reject the statement, while an Interquartile range (IQR) of ≥4 or a MED of 4–6 was considered as no agreement. These statements were reviewed and included in the second round. Results: Screening for malnutrition is widely supported (79%), but only 38% of participants reported having specific management protocols. Symptoms such as abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and diarrhea were identified as key predictors of intolerance to polymeric formulas, establishing oligomeric enteral formulas as first choice in these cases. In addition, the effectiveness of an approach that progresses from oligomeric to polymeric enteral formulas once symptoms have stabilized was highlighted. The need for standardized protocols was recognized as a priority to guide nutritional assessment and treatment in patients with malabsorption. Conclusions: This consensus reinforces the importance of implementing specific clinical protocols for the nutritional management of malabsorption, including the initial use of oligomeric enteral formulas in patients with severe symptoms and their controlled transition to polymeric enteral formulas.

Background: Malnutrition or its risk is common among patients with cancer (from 15% to 90%) and can negatively impact treatment outcomes and quality of life. Early detection and nutritional intervention are essential to improve clinical, health, and economic outcomes. This study evaluates the PRONTO (PROtocol for NuTritional risk in Oncology), a novel tool designed for the early identification of nutritional risk in patients with cancer. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of the PRONTO in detecting nutritional risk among newly diagnosed oncology patients. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational pilot study included 200 patients from two oncology centers in Madrid, Spain. The PRONTO was applied during the first oncology visit. Nutritional risk was assessed using PRONTO and nutritional status was evaluated with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Tool acceptability was measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Net Promoter Score (NPS) among participating oncologists. Results: The PRONTO identified 62.0% of patients at nutritional risk, while malnutrition was confirmed in 57.0% of patients using GLIM criteria. The PRONTO demonstrated high sensitivity (90.4%) and specificity (75.6%) compared to the GLIM. Oncologists rated the PRONTO highly, with a SUS score of 87.9 and an NPS of 9.1, indicating strong usability and recommendation potential. Conclusions: The PRONTO is a feasible and practical tool for early nutritional risk screening in oncology settings. Its simplicity and efficiency support its integration into routine clinical practice. The high prevalence of nutritional risk underscores the need for early screening to guide timely nutrition care. Further research with larger and diverse groups of patients and oncologists is needed to validate scalability and assess the impact of nutritional interventions on patient outcomes.

Background: Malabsorption is a frequent and clinically relevant condition associated with a high risk of disease-related malnutrition across multiple gastrointestinal and systemic disorders. Despite its prevalence, standardized nutritional management algorithms remain limited. Following a previously published Delphi consensus on the use of oligomeric enteral formulas, the present study aimed to develop and validate a practical nutritional management algorithm for patients with malabsorption. Methods: A structured expert questionnaire was conducted among 173 physicians with clinical experience in malabsorption, including specialists in endocrinology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, and oncology. Participants gained experience using the preliminary algorithm by applying it to five real-life cases before completing the questionnaire. The survey addressed symptom type, intensity, and duration required for screening, diagnostic criteria for malnutrition, timing of reassessment, indications for oligomeric oral nutritional supplements (ONSs), and criteria for reintroducing polymeric formulas. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS v9.4. Results: Of the 173 participants, 67.1% were women, with a mean age of 39.6 ± 8.2 years and a mean clinical experience of 10.9 ± 7.9 years. In clinicians’ opinion, diarrhea was the most frequently considered symptom to trigger screening (88.6%), followed by abdominal distension (72.6%), abdominal pain (65.4%), and increased gastric residuals (45.8%). Experts agreed that symptoms should present with at least moderate intensity and persist for more than 3 weeks to justify screening. Most respondents agreed with using the GLIM criteria for malnutrition assessment (97.7%). For patients with poor tolerance to polymeric ONSs or moderate-to-severe symptoms, initiation of oligomeric ONSs was recommended, with diarrhea identified as the main indication (31.1%). Symptom severity prompting oligomeric formulas was rated between 2.8 and 3.3 on a 5-point scale. The mean recommended duration of symptom improvement before transitioning back to polymeric formulas was 6.24 ± 4.45 weeks. Conclusions: This study presents a consensus-based, clinically applicable algorithm for nutritional screening, diagnosis, and intervention in patients with malabsorption. The algorithm provides clear guidance on symptom assessment, use of GLIM criteria, selection of ONS type, and follow-up, potentially improving standardization and quality of nutritional care in this high-risk population.