🥄 MUST Malnutrition Screening
UseEnter weight and height plus the weight-loss band and acute-illness item; the tool sums the three component s…
SourceStratton RJ, et al. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool predicts mortality and length of hospital…
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
MUST is designed for all care settings (hospital, community, care home) and is intended to trigger a care pathway rather than diagnose malnutrition on its own (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
When to use
Enter weight and height plus the weight-loss band and acute-illness item; the tool sums the three component scores into a low/medium/high risk category.
How it works
Score = BMI points (>20 kg/m² = 0, 18.5–20 = 1, <18.5 = 2) + weight-loss points (<5% = 0, 5–10% = 1, >10% = 2) + acute-disease points (no intake likely >5 days = 2). Total 0 low, 1 medium, ≥2 high risk.
Key points
- MUST is designed for all care settings (hospital, community, care home) and is intended to trigger a care pathway rather than diagnose malnutrition on its own (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
- A medium-risk score warrants documented intake observation; a high-risk score warrants dietitian referral and a nutrition support plan.
- When height or weight cannot be measured, validated surrogates (ulna length, mid-upper-arm circumference, recalled weight) are used so screening is not skipped.
References
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Weight | 60 kg |
|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm |
| Unplanned weight loss in the past 3–6 months | 5–10% |
| Acutely ill and likely no intake for >5 days | Yes |
→MUST score3pts
- BMI：22 (scores 0)
- Nutrition risk：High risk
| Weight | 60 kg |
|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm |
| Unplanned weight loss in the past 3–6 months | <5% |
| Acutely ill and likely no intake for >5 days | Yes |
→MUST score2pts
- BMI：22 (scores 0)
- Nutrition risk：High risk
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What are the limits and cautions when using MUST Malnutrition Screening?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- Does MUST Malnutrition Screening upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is MUST Malnutrition Screening calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Weight 60 kg, Height 165 cm, Unplanned weight loss in the past 3–6 months 5–10%, Acutely ill and likely no intake for >5 days Yes → Result: MUST score 3 pts（BMI: 22 (scores 0), Nutrition risk: High risk） Inputs: Weight 60 kg, Height 165 cm, Unplanned weight loss in the past 3–6 months <5%, Acutely ill and likely no intake for >5 days Yes → Result: MUST score 2 pts（BMI: 22 (scores 0), Nutrition risk: High risk）