Survey shows patient malnutrition 'common'

It says most of those suffering are in the 'high risk' category, adding that malnutrition is 'common' in all types of care homes and hospitals across all types of wards and diagnostic categories, and involving all ages. It is also common in mental health units. The results come from the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) from its nutrition screening survey carried out in 175 hospitals, 173 care homes and 22 mental health units between 25-27 September last year. The survey findings also show that nutritional screening policies and practice vary between and within health care settings, and that malnutrition continues to be under-recognised and under-treated. Although 25% of those admitted to hospital from home were found to be malnourished, the figures rose to 31% for those coming from another hospital, 32% for those arriving from another ward and 43% for those coming from a care home. The report, therefore, urges that 'consistent and integrated strategies to detect, prevent and treat malnutrition should exist within and between all care settings' be introduced. The survey also found it was also greater in hospitals that had a screening policy than those that did not (28% versus 24%), and considerably greater in large hospitals with more than 1,000 beds than less than 1,000 beds (38% versus 26%). And although malnutrition was found to be common in all age groups and diagnostic categories, it was significantly more common in women, who were older than men (29% versus 26%), in subjects aged over 65 years than under 65 years (30% versus 24%), and in certain diagnostic categories than others (e.g. gastrointestinal disease (43%) and neurological disease (33%) versus cardiovascular (21%) and musculoskeletal conditions (18%). The survey involved reporters completing a general questionnaire and an anonymous patient questionnaire as part of a national audit on nutritional screening. The survey used the same criteria - based on the 'Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool' ('MUST') - in all care settings. To see the full report visit www.bapen.org.uk.