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Who is at risk of malnutrition?

Identifying patients at risk to support with identification

Which patients are at risk of malnutrition?

Several factors have been associated with malnutrition risk.  Understanding who is most at risk can assist with earlier identification and management.1,2

Individuals at risk of malnutrition include the following examples:3

  • Before and after surgery
  • Acute stroke
  • Injury
  • Cancer treatment
  • If adequate food is not consumed for more than five days
  • Mobility problems
  • Increasing age
  • Sarcopenia
  • Recent hospital discharge
  • Rehabilitation
  • Living on a low income
  • Social isolation and loneliness, eating alone
  • Poor mobility, being housebound
  • Bereavement
  • Self-neglect
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Heart failure causing breathlessness and fatigue
  • Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal disease including inflammatory bowel disease and other causes of malabsorption or early satiety
  • Chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic pain
  • Visual or other sensory impairments
  • Swallowing issues including history of surgery or radiotherapy to the upper aero-digestive tract
  • Medications, treatments, or conditions that suppress appetite or affect taste, or cause dry mouth, nausea, or early satiety
  • Problems with oral health or dentures
  • Dementia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Stroke
  • Motor neurone disease
  • Cerebral palsy or learning disability
  • Due to underlying anxiety, depression, and reduced motivation and energy levels
  • Difficulty accessing or preparing food and drink that is palatable and attractive to consume
  • Difficulties with cooking or shopping

How can you identify patients with or at risk of malnutrition?

Learn more about identification and asking the right questions.

Find out more
  1. Holdoway A, et al (consensus panel). Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community. 3rd edition, 2021. Available at: www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk​/library/managing_malnutrition.pdf
  2. Murphy J, et al. Identifying and treating older patients with malnutrition in primary care: the MUST screening tool. British Journal of General Practice 2018; 68 (672): 344-345. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X697853
  3. Adult malnutrition: What are the risk factors? NICE CKS. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/adult-malnutrition/background-information/risk-factors/

References accessed February 2026.

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to Pharmacovigilance at Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tel: 01249 466966, email: pharmacovigilance@alliancepharma.co.uk.