Use of oral nutritional supplements

Although malnutrition is frequently identified in acute settings where nutrition screening is mandatory, 93% of those affected reside in the community (Elia and Russell, 2009), highlighting the need for vigilance and attention to those at risk. Where individuals are identified at risk during a hospital admission, the short length of hospital stays means that the period required to effectively treat and reverse malnutrition extends considerably beyond hospital discharge, necessitating the need for continued nutritional care, including the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in the community.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2006) has shown that substantial cost savings can be achieved through identifying and treating malnutrition, subsequently reducing health and care use (Stratton et al, 2018). Failing to identify and treat malnutrition not only increases healthcare costs, but is also associated with poorer quality of life and has a particularly high adverse impact on the older person, impairing function, mobility and independence (Morley et al, 2013; Gossier et al, 2016).