Malnutrition occurs when a person’s diet does not contain the right balance of nutrients. A deficiency in nutrients may have detrimental effects on health, putting a patient at higher risk of developing disease; or delaying recovery from disease. The term malnutrition is generally used to refer to under-nourishment. It is also possible to eat a diet high in calories but containing few vitamins and minerals, causing malnutrition, even though a person might be overweight or obese. Making an assessment of a patient’s state of nutrition is essential to identify those in need of further investigation and subsequent nutritional support. This includes an evaluation of their diet; their general physical condition; and measurement of height, weight and body mass index. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool or M.U.S.T, is a commonly used, and validated screening tool. It is used in the assessment of adults in hospitals and community care settings, to detect malnutrition, those at risk of malnutrition, or those that are obese. It also includes management guidelines, which can be used to develop a nutritional care plan. It is important to note that in some situations where a patient’s height or weight measurements may be altered; such as patients with fluid disturbances, during pregnancy, in patients with amputations, or plaster casts; the M.U.S.T. tool may need to be adapted.
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