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Failure to Thrive, Adult

Vanessa Joyce M. Evardone, BSMT, MD and Alexander Sasha Rackman, M.D. Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

Failure to thrive (FTT): 
  • “A syndrome of weight loss, decreased appetite, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity, often associated with dehydration, depression, immune dysfunction and low chole...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Approach to FTT: comprehensive Hx and PE with directed laboratory and radiologic tests.

  • Two concepts of screening for frailty:

    • Physical-phenotypic frailty: from multisystem biologica...

TREATMENT

  • Once FTT is diagnosed, appropriate interventions are directed toward the precipitant factor, as well as treating Sx.

  • New Dx: review side effect profile of current Rx; start appropriate Tx, an...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Patient education on the clinical manifestations of FTT as well as medical conditions that would predispose to its development 

PROGNOSIS

FTT is multifactorial and given th...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Huffman GB. Evaluating and treating unintentional weight loss in the elderly. Am Fam Physician. 2002;65(4): 640-50.

  • Rehman HU. Involuntary w...

CODES

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