13.4% of patients who were diagnosed as malnourished received either parenteral or enteral nutrition during their hospital stay.[1]

Enteral nutrition is preferred over parenteral nutrition because it is cheaper and has a lower risk of complications (especially infection).[2]

1. Corkins, M., Guenter, P., DiMario-Ghalili, R., Jensen, G., Malone, A., Miller, S., Patel, V., Plogsted, S., Resnick, H. Malnutrition Diagnoses in Hospitalized Patients. Journal of Pareneteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2014; 38(2): 186-195.

2. Hyeda A, Costa ÉSMD. Economic analysis of costs with enteral and parenteral nutritional therapy according to disease and outcome. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2017;15(2):192–199. doi:10.1590/S1679-45082017GS4002.