The Validity of Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) for Nutritional Screening in Hemodialysis Patients

Özet

Objective: Wasting and malnutrition are problems frequently encountered in patients undergoing hemodialysis that mayincrease morbidity and mortality. The malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) is a quick and easy-to-use nutritionalscreening tool. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of MUST by comparing two accepted nutritional screening methods in hemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods: The MUST, malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and nutritional status according to the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) report were applied to 88 hemodialysis patients. Albumin,pre-albumin, C-reactive protein levels, body mass index, and calf circumference were measured in all patients.Results: Malnutrition was identified in 14.78% of patients according to MUST, 10.22% according to MIS, and 13.63% according to the ISRNM report. The sensitivity of MUST was 22.2% using the MIS criteria, and 50% using the ISRNM report.Specificity was 86.1% according to MIS and 90.8% according to the ISRNM report.Conclusion: Although not sensitive, the MUST is a specific nutritional screening tool in patients undergoing hemodialysisaccording to the MIS and ISRNM report.