Nutritional Screening, Initial Management and Referral for Older People with Sarcopenia or Frailty - Results from a UK-Wide Survey

Objectives: We surveyed healthcare staff working with older people to understand current practice in nutrition screening, initial management and referral for older people with sarcopenia and frailty.

Methods: We conducted a UK-wide web-based survey of staff working with older people in both hospital and community settings. Surveys were distributed through professional organisation e-mail lists and social media channels. Descriptive data were generated from categorical responses and inductive thematic analysis was applied to free-text responses.

Results: Data were analysed from 169 respondents (110 hospital, 59 community), representing 99 healthcare organisations. 91 (83%) hospital respondents and 24 (41%) community respondents reported that nutrition screening was performed on all patients with sarcopenia or frailty. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool was most commonly used to trigger referral to dietetics teams, but there was considerable variation in management before referral, referral thresholds and referral pathways. Themes derived from free-text responses included the need for training, issues of responsibility and ownership, inadequate resources (time, staff and equipment) and ineffective or inefficient processes for referral and management.

Conclusions: Current UK nutritional care for older people with sarcopenia and frailty is heterogeneous. There are opportunities for better tools, processes, training and resources to improve current practice and pathways.