Feeding the Patient at Nutritional Risk: Does the Clinical Outcome Improve?

Inclusion Criteria: * all patients coming on station Exclusion Criteria: * patients with a screening total score \<3 according to the NRS-2002 system * less than 18 years of age, expected hospital stay less than 4 days * expected survival less than 1 month * pregnant or lactating women * patients with psychiatric disorders * patients with cardiac failure as defined by the Goldmann classification class \>II (recent rest pain, unstable angina pectoris) * patients with respiratory failure (Peak Flow Rate: PEFR \<50%) * patients with hepatic dysfunction (Child \>A) * patients suffering from an intestinal obstruction or ileus * patients with renal failure (creatinine \>250 μmol/l) or receiving haemodialysis * patients that are already receiving, or are planned to receive parenteral nutrition * patients unable to understand the German language