The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) can be used to screen a patient for malnutrition.
Parameters:
(1) body mass index (BMI)
(2) unintentional weight loss in the past 3-6 months
(3) acute disease effect with compromise of nutritional intake for > 5 days
Parameter
Finding
Points
body mass index
> 20 kg per square meter
0
18.5 to 20 kg per sq m
1
< 18.5 kg per sq m
2
unintended weight loss
< 5%
5 to 10%
> 10%
acute disease
absent
present
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 6
• The higher the score the greater the risk of malnutrition.
Score
Risk Malnutrition
low
medium
>= 2
high
Limitation:
• For an elderly adult a BMI < 22 is considered underweight.
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Purpose: To evaluate a patient for malnutrition using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Test (MUST).
Specialty: Nutrition
Objective: risk factors
ICD-10: E40-E46, E50-E64,
