The Department of Health Nutrition Action Plan⁽¹⁾ recommends nutrition screening in all health and social care settings, one of which is sheltered housing. Sheltered housing schemes in the UK account for a greater number of individuals (~0.67 million) than those residing in care homes (~0.5 million)⁽Reference Elia and Russell²⁾ and yet there have only been a few studies assessing malnutrition⁽Reference Elia and Russell^2, Reference Harris³⁾. The aim of this large survey was to establish the prevalence of malnutrition in individuals living in sheltered housing in Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset and to compare it to previously published figures in other geographic localities in the UK.

One thousand three hundred and fifty three individuals (mean age 78 years (sd 10.4); 77% female) in 140 sheltered housing schemes were screened using the ‘Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool’ (‘MUST’)⁽Reference Elia and Russell²⁾ during invited coffee mornings over a 6-month period in 2008. To calculate malnutrition risk (low, medium and high) using ‘MUST’, weight (kg), height (m), BMI (kg/m²), recent percent unintentional weight loss and information on acute disease effect were collected and analysed. All individuals could be screened using ‘MUST’.

Twelve percent of individuals were ‘at risk’ of malnutrition (7% medium and 5% high) with those greater than 80 years of age (n=740) having a significantly (Chi²P<0.03) greater prevalence of malnutrition (14%) than those less than 80 years of age (9%). All individuals at risk of malnutrition were identified with ‘MUST’ steps 1 and 2 (BMI and weight loss). Seven percent (n=101) had a BMI<20 kg/m² (including 4% (n=52) BMI<18.5; step 1) and 5% (n=70) had >5% unintentional weight loss (including 1% (n=17) with >10%; step 2). No individuals were identified with an acute disease effect (step 3). The overall prevalence of malnutrition (12%) was similar to previously published smaller surveys in the UK (Wales (12%)⁽Reference Harris³⁾ and Harrogate (14%)⁽Reference Elia and Russell²⁾).

This is the largest survey of malnutrition in sheltered housing residents to date. In accordance with smaller studies in sheltered housing, this survey highlights that more than 1 in 10 tenants are at risk of malnutrition (which equates to >67 000 individuals in the UK). Studies are now required to investigate the effect of implementing procedures to facilitate the identification and management of malnutrition in sheltered housing.