Identifying malnutrition risk in acute medical patients: Validity and utility of Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool and Modified Malnutrition Screening Tool

Aim: Nutrition screening is increasingly conducted in hospitals during the patient admission process. We aimed to explore the ease of use of two tools in the conduct of screening by nutrition technicians (NTs), and to compare validity. The tools are Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and Modified Malnutrition Screening Tool (Mod‐MST). Methods: A sample of 262 consecutive adult hospital patients in medical wards was screened during December 2008 to January 2009. Trained NTs used both tools to screen each patient. Dietitians who were blinded to screening results then assessed each patient using Subjective Global Assessment as a reference tool. Time taken for screening was recorded and ease of tool use was explored in interviews with technicians. Results: The specificity of MUST and Mod‐MST was 85% and 83%, respectively, with sensitivity of 80% and 77%. Both tools were easy to use and could be applied to all patients, including those unable to answer interview questions. However, the MUST took two to three times longer to complete (5–7 min) using objective data. The Mod‐MST collected subjective data that required interpretation by technicians. Conclusion: Specificity and sensitivity of the two tools were less than optimum at ≤85%, as some patients would be misclassified. Both tools were valid and feasible to use with all medical patients, including those with whom communication cannot be established. The Mod‐MST is recommended, as choice of malnutrition screening tool needs to balance efficacy with time taken to be useful for mass screening programs.     

The nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) score detects malnutrition risk in patients admitted to nephrology wards

Background

Nutritional screening tools recommended for the general hospitalised population do not always adequately detect malnutrition risk in patients with kidney disease. The present study assessed the validity and reliability of the Nutrition Impact Symptoms (NIS ) score as a nutrition screening tool for hospitalised inpatients prefer in nephrology wards.

Methods

Nutritional status was classified using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA ). NIS scores were calculated from the total score of responses to questions assessing symptoms impacting upon nutritional status from the patient‐generated SGA . Concurrent validity of NIS score was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve to predict malnutrition risk against SGA . Predictive validity was examined against length of hospital stay (LOS ) and 30‐day re‐admission using Poisson and logistic regression, respectively. Inter‐rater reliability of NIS scoring between assessors was determined using intraclass correlation.

Results

In 143 patients [90 males; mean (SD ) age 57.8 (15.8) years], malnutrition prevalence was 38% (54/143) using SGA (rating B/C). Predicting malnutrition risk with an NIS score of ≥3 had a sensitivity of 0.89 and a specificity of 0.65 (area under the curve = 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI ) = 0.74–0.88]). For each 1‐point increase in NIS score, the model predicted a 1.9% rise in the risk of an increased LOS (P = 0.002). Thirty‐day re‐admission was not associated with NIS score. Inter‐rater reliability was moderate (mean difference = 0.53; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.57–0.85).

Conclusions

Nutrition impact symptoms score is a valid stand‐alone nutrition screening tool for identifying malnutrition risk in nephrology inpatients and is associated with LOS.

     

An evaluation of a community dietetics intervention on the management of malnutrition for healthcare professionals

Background: Healthcare professionals working in the community setting have limited knowledge of the evidence‐based management of malnutrition. The present study aimed to evaluate a community dietetics intervention, which included an education programme for healthcare professionals in conjunction with the introduction of a community dietetics service for patients ‘at risk’ of malnutrition. Changes in nutritional knowledge and the reported management of malnourished patients were investigated and the acceptability of the intervention was explored. Methods: An education programme, incorporating ‘Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)’ training, was implemented in eight of 10 eligible primary care practices (14 general practitioners and nine practice nurses attended), in seven private nursing homes (20 staff nurses attended) and two health centres (53 community nurses attended) in conjunction with a community dietetics service for patients at risk of malnutrition. Nutritional knowledge was assessed before, immediately after, and 6 months after the intervention using self‐administered, multiple‐choice questionnaires. Reported changes in practice and the acceptability of the education programme were considered using self‐administered questionnaires 6 months after the intervention. Results: A significant increase in nutritional knowledge 6 months after the intervention was observed (P < 0.001). The management of malnutrition was reported to be improved, with 69% (38/55) of healthcare professionals reporting to weigh patients ‘more frequently’, whereas 80% (43/54) reported giving dietary advice to prevent or treat malnutrition. Eighty‐percent (44/55) of healthcare professionals stated that ‘MUST’ was an acceptable nutrition screening tool. Conclusion: An education programme supported by a community dietetics service for patients ‘at risk’ of malnutrition increased the nutritional knowledge and improved the reported management of malnourished patients in the community by healthcare professionals.     

The Malnutrition Screening Tool is a useful tool for identifying malnutrition risk in residential aged care

Background:  The Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) is a valid nutrition screening tool in the acute hospital setting but has not been assessed in residential aged care facilities. The aim of this secondary analysis was to determine whether the MST could be a useful nutrition screening tool when compared with a full nutrition assessment by Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) in the residential aged care setting.
Methods:  Two hundred and eighty-five residents (29% male; mean age 84 ± 9 years) from eight residential aged care facilities in Australia participated in the study. A secondary analysis of data collected during a nutrition intervention study was conducted. The MST consists of two questions related to recent weight loss and appetite. Although the MST was not specifically applied, weight loss and appetite information was available and an estimated MST score (0–5) was calculated. Nutritional status was assessed by a research assistant trained in using the SGA.
Results:  Malnutrition prevalence was 42.8% (122 malnourished out of 285 residents). Compared to the SGA, the MST was an effective predictor of nutritional risk (sensitivity = 83.6%, specificity = 65.6%, positive predictive value = 0.65, negative predictive value = 0.84).
Conclusions:  The components of the MST have acceptable sensitivity and specificity, suggesting that it can play a valuable role in quickly identifying the risk of malnutrition in the residential aged care setting. Further prospective research using the MST tool against a broader array of objective and subjective nutritional parameters is required to confirm its validity as a screening tool in aged care settings.     

The facilitated early enteral and dietary management effectiveness trial in hospitalized patients with malnutrition

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized setting is 30% to 55%. Previous studies reported an association of malnutrition with an increased hospital length of stay (LOS), morbidity, and mortality of patients. This study evaluated the role of early nutrition intervention on LOS, diagnosis coding of malnutrition cases, calculating case mix index, and reducing delays in implementing nutrition support to patients. Methods: Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, LOS, and serum albumin levels were collected from 400 patients in 2 medical wards to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and potential delays in nutrition consultation. Based on these results, a nutrition intervention study was conducted in 1 ward; the other ward served as a control. Patients were classified as normally nourished or malnourished. Multivariate general linear regressions were used to reveal the impact of intervention on the change in LOS, controlling for other potential confounding factors on the cohort and a subset with severe malnutrition. Results: Of the 400 patients assessed, 53% had malnutrition. Multiple general linear regressions showed that nutrition intervention reduced LOS an average of 1.93 days in the cohort group and 3.2 days in the severe malnourished group. Case mix index and female gender were positively associated with LOS in the malnourished group. Nutrition intervention reduced the delays in implementing nutrition support to patients by 47%. Conclusions: Results highlight the positive impact of nutrition intervention in terms of reduced LOS in malnourished hospital patients. Reduction in LOS with diagnosis coding of malnutrition cases yielded substantial economic benefits.     

The presence of malnutrition in community‐living older adults receiving home nursing services

Aim: To determine the extent of malnutrition and malnutrition risk among community‐living older people (aged 65 years and over) who are receiving care from a metropolitan home nursing service in Victoria, Australia. Method: Over a 3‐month period (May–July 2009), 235 clients aged 65 years and over from a community nursing service providing home nursing care were assessed for malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®, Nestle, Vevey, Switzerland). Results: Thirty‐four per cent (34.5%) of clients were identified as being at risk of malnutrition, while 8.1% were found to be malnourished. There was no significant relationship between nutrition risk and gender, country of birth or living arrangements. Conclusion: Malnutrition and nutrition risk was found to be an issue among this sample of community‐living older adults who were receiving home nursing care in Victoria, Australia. In this study, just over 40% of the participants were either at risk of malnutrition or malnourished, which highlights the vulnerability of this group of older people and the need for routine nutrition screening and a targeted intervention program to address nutrition issues.     

The evaluation of an undernutrition risk score to be used by nursing staff in a teaching hospital to identify surgical patients at risk of malnutrition on admission: a pilot study

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate an undernutrition risk score (URS) developed by the Dietetic Department of an acute tertiary referral hospital in Dublin with the aim that the URS could be used by nursing staff, to identify surgical patients at risk of malnutrition on admission.
Methods Forty surgical patients (16 males and 24 females) were recruited, within 5 days of admission. A standard objective nutritional assessment was carried out on each patient. This consisted of a 3-day diet history, anthropometric indices including: weight, armspan, mid-upper arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference and hand grip dynamometry. A nutrition risk index (NRI) screening tool was also used by a single observer to categorize patients as having low, moderate or severe risk of malnutrition. The indices used for the NRI were serum albumin and percentage weight loss. The URS assessed patients with respect to changes in weight and appetite, gut function and disease status and was completed by nursing staff by interview for each of the patients recruited.
Results The URS was successful in detecting 71.4% ( n  = 10) of surgical patients who were classified as being at some risk (moderate/severe) for undernutrition by the NRI. However, 11.8% ( n  = 4) of the patients who were categorized by the NRI as being at moderate risk for undernutrition were classified as being at low risk by the nursing staff using the URS. The URS was found to be most sensitive in the detection of those at low or severe risk for undernutrition and least sensitive for those at moderate risk.
Conclusion The undernutrition risk score in this study provided an accurate and consequently useful screening tool that could be used for surgical patients who are capable of feeding themselves independently.     

Terminal transferase in patients hospitalized for malnutrition

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a DNa polymerase which is used as a marker for immature T lymphocytes. Elevated levels of TdT have previously been demonstrated in the peripheral blood of malnourished Indian children. In this study, 50% of a group of adult patients, referred for total parenteral nutrition had elevated levels of TdT in their lymphocytes compared to a group of normal healthy volunteers. Elevated TdT levels were associated with the presence of malnutrition and were partially related to the presence of sepsis and cancer. The level of TdT correlated significantly with a composite index of nutritional status, the Hospital Nutritional Index, that predicts hospital morbidity and mortality. TdT may be useful as a rapid test of critical protein malnutrition.