Malnutrition Deaths Surge Sixfold: The Alarming Rise

Malnutrition has become the fastest-growing cause of death in the U.S., with a sixfold increase over the last decade. This trend impacts all demographics, though it disproportionately affects Americans aged 85 and older, who die from it at an estimated 60 times the rate of the general population. The increase is seen across every state, education level, race, and gender, suggesting factors beyond simple economic hardship or food insecurity.

While food insecurity among older Americans has risen, it doesn't fully explain the dramatic increase in malnutrition-related deaths. The surge is largely attributed to improved diagnostic capabilities and documentation practices, initiated around 2012. Professional organizations like the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics developed more comprehensive criteria for identifying malnutrition.

These efforts led to increased recognition and coding of malnutrition on death certificates, particularly from 2014 onwards. Changes in how Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) account for malnutrition in mortality calculations also incentivized healthcare providers to document it more thoroughly. Experts believe this improved detection, rather than a true increase in cases, accounts for the escalating statistics.