Hospital malnutrition risk on the rise

Nutrition charity BAPEN has reported that the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to hospital was 34%, up from 28% the previous year. The figures come from the annual Nutrition Screening Week (NSW) survey, which was carried out in January 2010 among 185 participating hospitals, which also showed that more than one in five of all admissions was recorded as being 'at high risk' of malnutrition. The survey also highlighted that more than one in three adults recently admitted to care homes and almost one in five adults admitted to Mental Health Units were also recorded as being at risk of malnutrition (37% and 18% respectively). Other findings showed that less than half of all hospitals always or usually included nutritional information in discharge communications, something that can potentially compromise the continuity of nutritional care as patients move between care settings. Christine Russell, chair of BAPEN's NSW project said: "The increase recorded in risk of malnutrition in hospital admissions during this winter may be due to a higher proportion of patients from more vulnerable groups admitted during this period, which is to be expected at this time of year. "More patients were 65 years of age and over, female, emergency admissions, and were admitted from other care settings. There was a higher prevalence of malnutrition among those with respiratory disease than seen in surveys at other times of the year." NSW 2011 runs from 5-7 April and any hospitals, mental health units and care homes that want to take part must first register by e-mailing to bapen@bapen.org.uk with 'Register for NSW11' in the subject line and providing full contact details.