Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool Score Research Articles

Effect of Diet Counseling on Nutritional Status of Chronic Respiratory Diseases Patients Enrolled in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in a Teaching Hospital: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.

We conducted the study to assess the effect of patient-tailored diet counseling on the nutritional status of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) patients under the pulmonary rehabilitation program from June 2021-May 2022. These patients completed 2 months of patient-tailored diet counseling sessions under the pulmonary rehabilitation program, which consisted of 4-5 interactive diet counseling sessions fortnightly. The pre- and postassessment was done using standardized outcomes: Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), body mass index (BMI), and ideal body weight. The study enrolled 110 CRD patients. There was a statistically significant improvement in pre- and postassessment in MUST score, appetite, and unintentional weight loss (P < 0.001). Most of the patient's BMI normalized. In prenutritional assessment, most of the patients were malnourished and in postassessment, the number of malnourished and anemic patients was reduced. This study concludes that nutritional counseling effectively improves nutritional status and anemia.

Prevalence of the use of oral nutritional supplements among acute inpatients at risk of malnutrition and associated patient characteristics.

To provide a snapshot of the current use of oral nutritional supplements, its association with inpatient characteristics, and with a focus on the role of nursing monitoring of food intake and implementing nutritional interventions for patients with low intake. Retrospective cohort study. The study collected data from a hospital database regarding oral nutritional supplement initiation and variables of patients hospitalised in internal medicine departments, who did not receive enteral or parenteral nutrition. Of the 5155 admissions, 1087 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (47% female; mean age, 72.4 ± 14.6 years; mean length of stay, 14.6 ± 11.4 days). Sufficient food intake reporting was noted in 74.6% of the patients; of these 17% had decreased intake. Oral nutritional supplements and non-oral nutritional supplements groups did not differ in terms of sex, age, length of stay, Charlson Comorbidity Index, proportion of nursing reports, and absence of intake monitoring. Oral nutritional supplements were initiated in 31.9% of patients with a Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score ≥2 and in 34.6% with decreased food intake. On multivariable analysis, hypoalbuminemia (adjusted odds ratio, 3.70), decreased food intake (adjusted odds ratio, 3.38), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.10), and age <70 years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.56) were significantly associated with oral nutritional supplements use. The prevalence of oral nutritional intervention was suboptimal in patients at risk of malnutrition during acute hospitalisation, although decreased food intake and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score ≥2 independently increased the probability of oral nutritional supplements initiation. Understanding the clinical practice and nursing impact of care management in relation to nutritional intervention can assist in reviewing and improving patient care. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE IMPACT (ADDRESSING): This study informs clinical management and influences nursing practice standards related to assessing, monitoring, and managing malnutrition risk. The study impacts the quality of care for patients at risk of malnutrition. We adhered to the STROBE Checklist for cohort studies. No Patient or Public Contribution.

1722 A Quality Improvement Project to improve MUST score and food chart completion on Frailty Wards

Abstract Introduction Nutrition is one of the cornerstones of healthy aging. As we age, there are many changes in our bodies including decreased appetite and poor dentition, that contribute to increasing malnutrition. The MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) score is a quick and effective tool to assess this. In this project, we reviewed MUST score and food chart completion on the frailty wards at EDGH to attempt to improve the nutrition of elderly patients. Methods The charts of seventy-five patients were reviewed over a period of one month. Following this, a training program for all the nursing staff was put in place. Initial results were discussed and the importance of nutrition in the elderly was highlighted. The staff were shown how to fill in the MUST score and follow management guidelines. Also, a reminder was set up on Nervecentre (local electronic patient record) for all staff. Results Of the initial seventy-five patients: 1 – a MUST score was completed for only 64% on admission to the ward 2 – 41.3% of patients were eating 50% or less of their meals 3 – In only 27% the reasons why they were not eating were documented. In the second cycle, eighty patients were included, and the results were markedly improved. 1 – The percentage of MUST score completion on admission increased to 91.3% 2 – Management guidelines were followed in 92.5% of the cases 3 – 18.8% with a MUST score of two or more, were referred to dietitians at an early stage Conclusions Our quality improvement project significantly increased MUST score completion and prompted action at an early stage. The third cycle in our improvement project is to improve the documentation of patients' food charts and encourage staff to look for and document the reasons why patients are not eating.

Effectiveness of a Digital Decision Aid for Nutrition Support in Women with Gynaecological Cancer: A Comparative Study

This study aimed to examine the effects of an animated Patient Decision Aid (PtDA) about dietary choices on decisional conflict and decision regret. A prospective, observational, two-group comparative effectiveness study was conducted with patients (n = 90) from a southern Taiwan oncology inpatient unit. Data included the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), laboratory results, 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale (sf-DCS), and 5-item Decision Regret Scale (DRSc). Data were collected at admission (T0), after the first-cycle of chemotherapy but before discharge (T1), and after the six-cycle chemotherapy protocol (T2) (around 3 months). Group A received standardized nutrition education and a printed brochure, while Group B watched a 10-minute information video during a one-on-one inpatient consultation and engaged in a values clarification exercise between T0 and T1. The percentage of women with a MUST score ≧1 in Group A sharply increased over time, but not in Group B. Decision aid usage significantly increased patients’ hemoglobin and lymphocyte values over time (p < 0.05). The digital PtDA contributed to less decisional conflict and decision regret in at-risk patients and improved their nutritional well-being. Decision-aids help patients make healthcare decisions in line with their values, and are sustainable for use by busy clinicians.

What is the most pertinent definition of malnutrition in epithelial ovarian cancer to assess morbidity and mortality?

IntroductionMalnutrition is common in ovarian cancer and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to define the most pertinent way to assess malnutrition in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in order to study its impact on morbidity (intra and post-operative complications) and survival (OS, overall survival and RFS, recurrence-free survival). MethodsWe retrospectively included all patients with EOC from 2003 to 2020. Nutritional status was assessed using the weight loss at diagnosis (more or <5%), albuminemia, the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). ResultsSix hundred and fifteen patients were included. Among them, 34% declared having lost >5% of their usual weight, 58% had an albuminemia <35 g/L, 86% presented an abnormal NRI and 29% an abnormal MUST score. After univariate analysis, weight loss>5% appeared to be significantly associated with RFS. An abnormal NRI or MUST score were significantly associated with a decrease in OS in univariate analysis. None of the markers of malnutrition studied were correlated with morbidity. ConclusionWe were not able to reach a consensus concerning the most accurate definition to define malnutrition and predict morbidity and mortality in EOC. However, this modifiable prognosis factor must be systematically assessed and managed accordingly.

Assessment for the risk of malnutrition and nutritional support in older emergency laparotomy patients: a clinical audit

Abstract Aims Patients undergoing urgent abdominal surgery should undergo an assessment of the risk of malnutrition upon admission using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). This assessment should trigger a response when patients are categorised as high-risk. This clinical audit aimed to determine whether older patients included in the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) were identified as being at risk of malnutrition and whether they received appropriate nutritional support to address deficiencies if they were classed as high-risk as per the recommendations of the NICE (2017) guidelines. Methods Patients entered into the NELA database at a single NHS trust who were over 65 or older between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, were included. The patient records were reviewed for the MUST score upon admission, and the presence of nutritional supplementation prescriptions, or dietetic referrals following the identification of a high-risk MUST score of 2 or above. Results Out of the 300 older NELA patients included in this clinical audit, 98% had a recorded MUST score. Between them, 114 patients had a high-risk MUST score, but 35% of these high-risk patients did not undergo a dietetic review. Additionally, 24% of high-risk patients received neither oral nor parenteral supplementation. Conclusions High-risk MUST scores in older NELA patients are readily available to surgical teams within the electronic patient record but do not consistently lead to interventions addressing nutritional deficiencies and nutritional screening is not currently included in NELA.

Enhancing the nutritional care of older people by recording actual body weight: a quality improvement project.

Malnutrition can have significant negative effects on older people's health, as well as a cost burden for health and social care services. Accurate, reliable and regular measurement of a patient's weight is important for prompt identification and management of malnutrition. This article discusses a quality improvement project that was undertaken in an emergency assessment unit for patients aged over 74 years in Northern Ireland. The aim of the project was to improve completion of Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) scores for patients attending the unit by nursing staff recording actual weight rather than recalled weight. A simple intervention of relocating weighing scales in the unit's triage bay resulted in an increase in completed MUST scores from 60% ( n =18) to 97% ( n =29) in the six months following the intervention. Feedback from members of the multidisciplinary team indicated that the intervention had a positive effect on the care they provided to patients and on their working relationships with colleagues.

231 An evaluation of the dietetic service in a Geriatric Assessment Unit—nutritional status and outcomes

Abstract Background In 2021 the Geriatric Assessment Unit (GAU) was established, a 0.5 WTE dietitian was appointed to the multidisciplinary team. The Comprehensive Older Age Assessment (COAA) developed by the MDT included two nutritional screening tools—Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the SARC-F questionnaire for sarcopenia. A MUST score of ≥2 and a SARC-F score of ≥4 were automatic dietetic referrals, referrals were also sent if a clinical concern was identified by the MDT. The aim of this review is to investigate the dietetic referral rates, nutritional status and compile a summary clinical outcomes. Methods A review of the dietetic excel database for the GAU, 2021 and 2022 was completed. The review included statistics on: (1) Referral rate, (2) Total number of dietetic interventions and a breakdown of new versus review patients, (3) MUST and SARRC- F score, (4) Body Mass Index (BMI) &amp; weight status and (5) Review of the dietetic outcome following intervention e.g. follow up versus discharge rate and weight status at review appointments. Results The data for 2021 and 2022 were combined—77.5% of patients attending the GAU were referred to the dietitian, 80% of patients referred attended a one to one consultation. 55% of all dietetic interventions were for new patients and 45% review patients. Average BMI was 25.5 kg/m2 and 27.7 kg/m2 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 13% had a MUST score of ≥2. 49.8% had a SCAR –F score ≥ 4. 41% of patients had reported or documented weight loss. 70% required dietetic review. At dietetic review 39.5% had desirable weight gain, 39.5% were weight stable, with only 16% having an undesirable weight loss. Conclusion The requirements and benefits of a dietetic service can be seen in the high referral rate, documented concerns of weight loss and percentage of patients with a SARC-F score ≥ 4, leading to patient specific dietetic intervention, with a stable or improved weight status at dietetic review.

255 Preliminary findings from a prospective cohort study of Ireland’s first community Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (cFEES) service

Abstract Background Dysphagia is a common and resource-demanding symptom of many conditions. Dysphagia prevalence increases with age and can affect quality of life, nutritional status, hydration and increase healthcare utilisation/cost. Instrumental swallowing assessment is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment. FEES is a gold standard diagnostic tool carried out by speech and language therapists (SLTs), typically in the acute setting. The aim of this study is to profile participants who accessed Ireland’s first cFEES service by describing clinical and process outcomes. Methods Adult patients referred for cFEES were invited to participate. Demographic, clinical and process data were recorded at index visit. A structured phone interview was completed at six months. Descriptive analysis was completed. Results In total, 53 participants were included: 70% were aged &amp;gt;65 years, median age was 72. Diagnoses included progressive neurological conditions such as motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and others (23%), Parkinson’s Disease, including Parkinson’s Plus Syndromes (15%), stroke (13%), head and neck cancer (11%), dysphagia unknown aetiology (9%), other (9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8%), other cancers (6%), and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (4%). Nutritional status was screened using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) at index visit for 44 participants. Of those, 23% (N = 10) had a MUST score ≥ 1. Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale was used to rate swallowing: 43% had some degree of dysphagia (mild to severe). FEES referrals originated mainly from primary care SLTs: 75%, the remaining 25% from older person’s services (community nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation and integrated care for older persons). One participant was unable to tolerate the procedure, which was abandoned. Three participants experienced non-limiting gagging or hypersensitivity. Conclusion cFEES is a novel service model which was accessed mainly by older people. cFEES was tolerated well by most, leading to evidence-based outcomes including ruling out significant dysphagia in 57% of cases.

ThTP5.10 A clinical audit of assessment of the risk of malnutrition and the subsequent nutritional support prescribed for older emergency laparotomy patients

Abstract Aims Patients should have assessment of the risk for malnutrition on admission using a Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and this should trigger a response if patients are categorised as high risk (National Institute for Health Care and Excellence, 2017). This clinical audit sought to identify if older patients undergoing emergency laparotomy were identified as at risk of malnutrition with subsequent interventions to address protein and energy deficiencies. Methods Patients entered onto the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) database who were over 65 years of age during 1/1/21 to 31/12/22 were included. The patient records were screened for the MUST score on admission and whether nutritional supplementation was prescribed, or dietetic referral made, following the recording of a high-risk MUST score. Results Three hundred patients were included in the audit with 99.3% of the patients having a MUST score recorded on admission. One hundred and fourteen patients recorded a high MUST score, with 35% of the high MUST patients not receiving a dietetic review and 24% receiving neither oral nor parenteral supplementation. Mortality at 30 days was 13.9%. The wide variety of supplementation prescribed was changed to a protein and energy-based supplement upon dietetic review. Conclusions MUST scores are available to surgical teams, but high-risk scores do not always trigger an intervention to address deficiencies in older NELA patients. A protocol to ensure consistent approaches to supplementation before dietetic review would reduce variation and education of prescribers is needed to address the importance of prescribing protein-based supplements is needed.

ThTP5.12 Assessment of malnutrition and nutritional interventions in patients presenting with acute small bowel obstruction – are we ‘getting it right first time’?

Abstract Aims High levels of morbidity and mortality are associated with small bowel obstruction (SBO), a common general surgical emergency. Assessment of malnutrition and introduction of early nutritional interventions are of paramount importance in the management algorithm of these patients. We audited our practice of managing acute small bowel obstruction at a busy district general hospital comparing our practice against National Audit of Small Bowel Obstruction (NASBO) recommendations. Methods Data were gathered for all patients presenting with bowel obstruction to our Trust between 01/08/2022 and 30/11/2022. In depth review of patient case records was undertaken using electronic patient record systems (e-Track and Evolve). Results 195 patients were admitted with acute bowel obstruction. 68 patients (35%) had acute SBO (M: F; 34:34). 58 (85%) had no documentation of duration for which they had been ‘nil by mouth’ (NBM) prior to hospitalisation. Malnutrition universal screening tool score (MUST score) was completed in 29 (43%) patients. 59% of patients had an emergency computed tomography (CT) which confirmed diagnosis of SBO. 60% of patients were managed non-operatively. On an average, patients were kept ‘NBM’ for two days (range; 1-16 days). Average waiting time for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was 9.6 days. Conclusions Evaluating our practice of managing patients with acute SBO has highlighted multiple areas for improvement to ‘get it right first time’. We have included stakeholders; nursing staff, dieticians, surgeons, junior doctors and vascular access team to implement action plan to optimise management in this cohort of patients in line with NASBO guidelines.

High prevalence of malnutrition in systemic sclerosis: Results from a French monocentric cross-sectional study

ObjectivesSystemic sclerosis (SSc) can cause malnutrition due to frequent gastrointestinal involvement. However, prevalence of malnutrition in SSc is poorly known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in SSc and its potential associations with disease features in patients from a tertiary referral center. MethodsAll patients meeting American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for SSc followed between January 1, 1985, and January 1, 2019, at the Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Eloi University Hospital, were included. Malnutrition was assessed using the 2020 French recommendations for SSc and the malnutrition universal screening tool score. Severe malnutrition was defined via the French Haute Autorité de Santé (National Health Authority) 2007 criteria. ResultsA total of 120 patients were included, with mean age 64 (± 15) y and a female-to-male sex ratio of 5:1. According to 2020 French recommendations, 71 patients (59.2%) were malnourished and 30 (25%) had at least one criterion of severe malnutrition. With the malnutrition universal screening tool score, 41.7%, 20%, and 38.3%, respectively, had low, medium, and high risk of malnutrition. Multivariate analysis revealed the following results: 1) malnutrition was associated with cardiac involvement (P < 0.01); 2) a high malnutrition universal screening tool score was also associated with specific cardiac involvement (P < 0.01); and 3) severe malnutrition was strongly correlated with interincisal distance <35 mm (P = 0.02). ConclusionsMalnutrition affects more than half of SSc patients and is associated with specific cardiac involvement. Interincisal distance <35 mm could be a red flag for severe malnutrition in SSc.

Relationship between Nutritional Risk, Clinical and Demographic Characteristics, and Pressure Ulcers in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injuries Attending a Rehabilitative Program.

Preliminary evidence in the literature suggests a high prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition) in patients with severe acquired brain injuries (sABI), with an expected negative impact on clinical outcomes and pressure ulcers (PUs) in particular. In a retrospective cohort study on patients discharged from intensive care units (ICU) and admitted to an intensive rehabilitation unit (IRU), the risk of malnutrition was systematically assessed, in addition to standard clinical procedures (including PUs evaluation), using two different tools: the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) tool. Eighty-eight patients were included in the analysis. A high proportion (79.5%) of patients with sABI suffered from PUs, being older and more frequently men, with a longer ICU stay between the event and admission to IRU, and a greater MUST score. At discharge, when compared to patients whose PUs had healed, those with persisting PUs were more often men and had the worst cognitive performance at admission. As for nutritional risk, the baseline CONUT score was identified as an independent negative predictor of PUs at discharge by the logistic regression model. In conclusion, the assessment of nutritional risk using simple standard tools may be useful in the clinical evaluation of sABI patients with PUs.

Screening for malnutrition in emergency laparotomy patients: a comparison of three tools.

Malnourished patients undergoing emergency laparotomy are at risk of significant morbidity. The optimum screening tool to identify such patients in practice and research is yet to be determined. This study aims to compare the performance of three nutrition risk tools in predicting time without enteral nutrition in this population. A prospective cohort study (NCT04696367) was conducted across two sites, recruiting patients undergoing National Emergency Laparotomy Audit eligible procedures. Data collected included demographics, diagnosis, procedure and outcomes. Nutrition risk was assessed using three tools: Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score, Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) and Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS-2002). Complications were assessed with the Comprehensive Complication Index. Quality of life was measured at baseline and 5 days postsurgery using EQ-5D-5L. A total of 59 patients were recruited. Median age was 69 years. Of the 59 participants, 23 were judged high risk using MUST score, 13 using NRS and 8 using NRI. Median time to restart enteral intake was 7 days (interquartile range 7-14). Time without intake was correlated with increasing score using MUST (r=0.463, p<0.001) and NRS-2002 (r=0.296, p=0.03) but not NRI (r=-0.121, p=0.38). High-risk nutritional groups also had increased length of hospital stay, but not complication scores. Patients undergoing emergency laparotomy spend a prolonged time without enteral nutrition. Although all nutritional tools demonstrated some propensity to identify patients at higher risk of needing nutritional support, their performance was variable. Nevertheless, some may be useful in future clinical studies.

To Evaluate Dietary Protein Intake As Per Recommended Dietary Allowance (Rda 2020) And Correlate It With The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool Score (Must) In Urban Indians Aged 40-60 Years.

To Evaluate Dietary Protein Intake As Per Recommended Dietary Allowance (Rda 2020) And Correlate It With The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool Score (Must) In Urban Indians Aged 40-60 Years.

Evaluation of prevalence of food intake monitoring during acute hospitalization and its association with malnutrition screening scores of inpatients who were not considered for enteral or parenteral nutrition

ObjectivesMalnutrition risk can be recognized by nurses using screening tools and food intake monitoring. We measured the prevalence of food intake reporting and its association with malnutrition screening scores or other patient characteristics. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study collected hospital database information regarding patients aged ≥18 y who were hospitalized for ≥ 7 consecutive days and were orally fed or had medical records that no tube feeding or parenteral nutrition had been administered. Data were collected and statistically analyzed focusing on food intake reporting, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) scores, oral nutritional intervention, and other secondary characteristics. ResultsOut of 5155 patients admitted to two internal medicine departments over 1 y (July 1, 2018, through August 31, 2019), 1087 fulfilled the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 72.4 ± 14.6 y; of these, 74.6% had sufficient food intake reports. No food intake was reported for one-third of patients with MUST scores ≥ 2. There were no differences between the groups of patients with and without reported food intake with regard to MUST scores, sex, mean albumin level, comorbidity, length of stay, all-cause in-hospital mortality, hospital-acquired pressure injury, or the rate of oral nutritional intervention. MUST scores ≥ 2 were not significantly associated with intake reporting. Increased probability of having food intake reported was found in patients ages ≥70 y (adjusted odds ratio = 1.36; P = 0.036 [95% CI, 1.02–1.82]) and those who had Norton scores ≤ 13 (adjusted odds ratio = 1.60; P = 0.013 [95% CI, 1.10–2.31]). However, the model had a weak predictive efficacy (area under the curve = 0.577; P < 0.0001 [95% CI, 0.538–0.616]). ConclusionsMore adherence to food intake monitoring guidelines is needed.

Increased Risk of Hospitalization, Surgery, and Venous Thromboembolism Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Malnutrition in a Large, Community-Based Health Care System.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constitute a high-risk population for malnutrition. Routine screening with standardized tools is recommended but can be challenging. Outcome data specific to IBD are sparse. We performed a retrospective cohort study (2009-2019) and electronically screened a large community-based population with IBD for malnutrition risk by extracting height and longitudinal weight, data elements used in the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate whether an electronic medical record-derived modified MUST malnutrition risk score was associated with IBD-related hospitalization, surgery, and venous thromboembolism. Malnutrition risk was categorized as low in 10,844 patients with IBD (86.5%), medium in 1,135 patients (9.1%), and high in 551 patients (4.4%). In the 1-year follow-up period, medium and high malnutrition risks, compared with low risk, were associated with IBD-related hospitalization (medium-risk adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-2.42; high-risk aHR 1.90, 95% CI 1.30-2.78) and IBD-related surgery (medium risk aHR 2.28, 95% CI 1.60-3.26; high risk aHR 2.38, 95% CI 1.52-3.73). Only high malnutrition risk was associated with venous thromboembolism (aHR 2.79, 95% CI 1.33-5.87). Malnutrition risk is significantly associated with IBD-related hospitalization, surgery, and venous thromboembolism. Application of the MUST score to the electronic medical record can efficiently identify patients at risk for malnutrition and adverse outcomes, permitting concentration of nutritional and nonnutritional resources to those at greatest risk.

Impact of Malnutrition on Clinical Outcomes of Acutely Hospitalised Heart Failure Patients at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Australia: An Observational Study.

Malnutrition is common in patients with heart failure (HF) but is often neglected, despite guidelines suggesting that all hospitalised patients should undergo nutritional screening within 24-hours of admission. This study investigated the nutritional screening rates and determined the immediate and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with HF admitted at two tertiary hospitals in Australia. Nutritional screening was assessed by the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) completion rates. Patients were classified into two categories based on their MUST scores (0=low malnutrition risk and ≥1=at risk of malnutrition). Propensity-score-matching (PSM) was used to match 20 variables depending upon the risk of malnutrition. Clinical outcomes included the days-alive-and-out-of-hospital at 90 days of discharge (DAOH90), length of hospital stay, in-hospital, 30-day and 180-day mortality and 30-day readmissions. There were 5,734 HF admissions between 2013-2020, of whom, only 789 (13.8%) patients underwent MUST screening. The mean (SD) age was 76.2 (14.0) years and 51.9% were males. Five-hundred and fifty-four (554) (70.2%) patients were at low malnutrition risk and 235 (29.8%) at risk of malnutrition. In HF patients, who were at risk of malnutrition, the DAOH90 were lower by 5.9 days (95% CI -11.49 to -0.42, p=0.035) and 180-day mortality was significantly worse (coefficient 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.18, p=0.007) compared to those who were at low risk of malnutrition. However, other clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. Nutrition screening is poor in hospitalised HF patients and long-term but not short-term clinical outcomes were worse in malnourished HF patients.

Can the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) Predict Healing Complications Following Microvascular Reconstruction of the Head and Neck?

Retrospective cohort study. Malnutrition has been found to have negative effects on the immune system and inflammatory responses, impairing the wound healing process. Free flap failure is a serious complication in patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction, as it increases patient morbidity, length of stay in the hospital, patient, and hospital costs, as well as causes the need for further surgical interventions1. Malnutrition is estimated to be present in 35-50% of head and neck cancer patients with higher rates in those experiencing hypo-oropharyngeal disease. This is often caused by functional and pain limitations from due to disease burden causing odynophagia and dysphagia. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is recommended for risk screening and provides three scores for risk classification: high, intermediate, and low2. We argue that the use of MUST as a preoperative assessment tool is useful to predict postoperative surgical site infection and delayed wound healing in patients that will undergo reconstruction with free flaps for head and neck defects. A retrospective cohort study was designed to include all subjects who underwent head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer at a single institution between 2013 and 2019. Primary and secondary reconstructions were included, for benign or malignant pathology, osteonecrosis, osteomyelitis, congenital defects, and trauma. The nutritional risk was evaluated using MUST, which analyzes body mass index, weight loss, and acute disease effect, to classify patients as low, intermediate, and high risk. We further divided the subjects into two comparison groups- low-intermediate and high risk. The primary outcome was surgical site complications and delayed wound healing. Data was analyzed as frequencies and means with standard deviations, as well as Fisher's exact test and t-test. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Analyses were done utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics Version 29. 131 subjects were included for data analysis, with 54 being considered low MUST risk, 12 intermediate risk (66 low-intermediate), and 65 were high risk. The mean BMI overall was 25.5 ±5.3, and 27.2 in the low-intermediate group, and 23.7 in the high-risk group. Eighty-two subjects experienced <5-pound weight loss in the preceding 6 months to surgery, while 17 lost between 5-10 pounds, and 23 lost 10< pounds. Cancer/osteonecrosis was the etiology for 54 (82%) subjects of the low-intermediate group, and 61 (92%) of the high-risk group (P = .089). The subjects classified in High-risk group according to the MUST score had 11% more surgical site complications (P = .120) and 13.7% more delayed wound healing and dehiscence(P = .09); only 3 subjects in the study presented total flap loss and they were all in the High-risk group. Surgical site complication, delayed wound healing rates and partial or total flap loss were not increased by any specific medical comorbidity or history such as radiation or chemotherapy. In conclusion, Subjects with high MUST score had increased complications and poor wound healing, and subjects with acute disease effect that induces a phase of nil per os for > 5 day have higher risk of total flap loss and surgical site complication.

Nutritional Status Indicators as a Predictor of Achieving Remission at Week 14 during Vedolizumab Therapy in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Study.

Background: The loss of response or failure to achieve remission to vedolizumab in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients is currently a major clinical problem. Recently, Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) have been suggested as a new prognostic factor of UC activity. Here, we aimed at confirmation of hypotezis that NRI, CONUT and MUST may be used as inexpensive and efficient predictive biomarkers of response in UC patients treated with vedolizumab. Methods: This study was conducted in retrospective manner in 32 adult patients with UC of Caucasian origin (21 men and 11 women), who were qualified for 52-week therapy with vedolizumab and finished the 14-weeks from January 2020 to March 2022. Our study analyzed the 45 courses of vedolizumab therapy. Nutritional status indicators, i.e., the NRI, CONUT and MUST of each UC patient, were marked at the time of qualifying for biological treatment. Results: In our study, the MUST score was significantly lower in UC patients who positively achieved clinical remission at week 14 during vedolizumab induction therapy (0.33 ± 0.49 vs. 1.37 ± 0.83; p = 0.002). The analysis showed the lower baseline NRI and CONUT scores in patients with positive clinical remission at week 14 (NRI: 96.42 ± 4.29 vs. 101.41 ± 7.09; p = 0.024; CONUT: 1.00 ± 1.08 vs. 2.16 ± 1.46; p = 0.031). Conclusions: Nutritional status indicators (NRI, MUST and CONUT) may become valuable predictor of achieving remission at week 14 during vedolizumab therapy in UC patients.