Screening adults for malnutrition using the MUST: an update

Disease-related malnutrition in adults is a costly problem. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality but can go unrecognised and therefore untreated. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), launched in 2003, is a validated screening tool to support the early recognition of malnutrition risk in adults across a wide variety of health and care settings. It remains one of the most widely used screening tools for adults in the UK. This review sets out the current evidence to support its use and discusses common challenges with completing it in practice. Practical information and signposting to the latest supporting resources are provided.

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Publication Details

Journal
British Journal of Nursing
Published
2026-04-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2026.0112
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Nutrition and Health in Aging
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
18.27
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article

Screening adults for malnutrition using the MUST: an update

Jane Fletcher, Wendy Milligan
1 citations
British Journal of Nursing
Nutrition and Health in Aging
18.27
article

Screening adults for malnutrition using the MUST: an update

Jane Fletcher, Wendy Milligan
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Disease-related malnutrition in adults is a costly problem. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality but can go unrecognised and therefore untreated. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), launched in 2003, is a validated screening tool to support the early recognition of malnutrition risk in adults across a wide variety of health and care settings. It remains one of the most widely used screening tools for adults in the UK. This review sets out the current evidence to support its use and discusses common challenges with completing it in practice. Practical information and signposting to the latest supporting resources are provided.

British Journal of NursingVol. 35(8)
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (GB), King's College London (GB)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Nutrition and Health in Aging
18.27
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