===== Nutritional Screening =====

**Nutritional screening** is a quick, simple and validated process to identify individuals at risk of [[malnutrition]] or who are already malnourished. It is the first step in the nutritional care pathway and determines whether further nutritional assessment is needed.

==== Key Characteristics ====
  * Quick and easy to perform
  * Can be completed by non-specialist staff (e.g., nurses)
  * Uses standardized tools
  * Facilitates early intervention and improves outcomes

==== Common Screening Tools ====
  * **MUST** (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool): for general adult population
  * **NRS-2002** (Nutritional Risk Screening): for hospitalized patients
  * **MNA** (Mini Nutritional Assessment): specific for older adults
  * **SGA** (Subjective Global Assessment): hybrid between screening and assessment

==== Typical Screening Parameters ====
  * **BMI** (Body Mass Index)
  * **Recent weight loss** (amount and time frame)
  * **Reduced dietary intake**
  * **Impact of acute or chronic illness**
  * **Appetite or functional decline**

==== Clinical Importance ====
Nutritional screening is essential in multiple settings:
  * In [[hospitals]]: reduces complications, infections, and length of stay
  * In [[primary care]]: identifies at-risk elderly or chronically ill patients
  * In [[surgical care]]: optimizes preoperative and postoperative recovery

==== If Risk is Identified ====
  * Refer for **comprehensive nutritional assessment**
  * Initiate **nutritional intervention** (oral supplements, enteral or parenteral support)
  * Ensure **monitoring and follow-up**

==== Related Links ====
  * [[nutritional_assessment]]
  * [[malnutrition]]
  * [[clinical_nutrition]]