LB019 - PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION AND USE OF NUTRITIONAL CARE IN GREAT BRITAIN – RESULTS OF ANNUAL BAPEN SURVEYS

LB019

PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION AND USE OF NUTRITIONAL CARE IN GREAT BRITAIN – RESULTS OF ANNUAL BAPEN SURVEYS

R. J. Stratton^1,*, R. H. Sipaul¹, E. R. Walters¹, E. L. Parsons¹, A. L. Cawood¹ on behalf of On behalf of the Malnutrition Action Group

¹BAPEN, Letchworth, United Kingdom

Rationale: Malnutrition often remains underdetected and undertreated. To understand the prevalence of malnutrition and use of nutritional care across different settings in the UK, surveys were undertaken in 4 consecutive years in conjunction with the UK Malnutrition Awareness Weeks (October 2019-2022) through BAPEN (www.bapen.org.uk). 

Methods: Data collected by health care professionals (84% dietitian, 2% nurse, 14% other) as part of routine clinical practice were inputted into the BAPEN survey portal; including screening results using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (‘MUST’), relevant clinical information about the patient (age, diagnosis, setting) and the nutritional care plan provided (e.g. food based intervention (includes dietary advice), oral nutritional supplements (ONS), artificial nutrition).  5327 adults (53% female; mean age 72 (SD 18) years, mean BMI 24.8 (SD 6.6) kg/m²)) from hospitals (70%) and a variety of community settings (30%) (home, care homes, rehab) had a range of primary diagnoses, including neurological diseases (18%), gastrointestinal conditions (10%), frailty (20%), cancer (12%). 25% were underweight (BMI < 20kg/m², 15% with a BMI<18/5kgm²), 18.5% were obese (BMI > 30kg/m²) and 22% had unplanned weight loss > 5% in past 3-6 months. 

Results: Overall, 42% of adults (38% of those aged <65y, 43% of those aged ≥65y) were at risk of malnutrition (12% medium; 30% high risk); with the highest prevalence in individuals with cancer (47.5%), gastrointestinal conditions (48.6%), respiratory conditions (51%), frailty (42.6%) and neurological diseases (40%). Malnutrition risk (medium+high risk) was reported in 47% in those at home, 48% in care home residents, 42% in hospitals. Nutritional care plans for malnutrition were in place for 59% of patients overall (76% of medium, 89% of high risk patients) with 75% receiving at least 1 food intervention, 53% receiving ONS, 18% tube feeding and 4% parenteral nutrition (could receive more than one intervention). Over the 4 survey years (2019-2022 respectively), overall malnutrition prevalence (42; 40; 39; 45; P=0.006) and the proportion of patients with nutritional care plans varied (64%, 62%, 50%, 62%, P<0.001). 

Conclusion: Further larger surveys are needed to verify findings, with survey data from a wider cohort of health care professionals, whilst investigation is needed to find systemic ways to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition, improving early detection and appropriate use of nutritional care across settings.

Disclosure of Interest: R. Stratton Other: Employee of Danone Nutricia, R. Sipaul: None declared, E. Walters: None declared, E. Parsons: None declared, A. Cawood Other: Employee of Holland & Barrett