The MNA is an assessment tool to identify elderly people who are undernourished or at risk of undernutrition.
While the prevalence of undernutrition in independent older people is relatively low, the risk of undernutrition increases significantly in older people in institutions and hospitalized.
The prevalence of undernutrition is even higher among older people with cognitive impairment and is associated with cognitive decline.
Patients who are undernourished on admission to the hospital tend to stay in the hospital longer, experience more complications and are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality than those with normal nutritional status.
By identifying patients suffering from malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition, both in the hospital and in a community structure, the MNA allows clinicians to intervene more quickly in order to provide appropriate nutritional support, prevent any further deterioration, and improve the patient's condition.
As a result of 17 to 23.5, there is a risk of malnutrition. For a score of 24 or more, the nutritional status is normal.
The full version of the MNA is a validated assessment tool that identifies older people who are undernourished or at risk of undernutrition. The full version of the MNA and takes 10-15 minutes to fill in. The short version of the MNA takes less than 5 minutes.
It retains the accuracy and validity of the full version.
Currently, the short version of the MNA is commonly used for clinical practice in the hospital or in institutions for the elderly, due to its ease of use.
The full version of the MNA is an excellent tool in the context of research because it can provide more information on the causes of undernutrition in people identified as suffering from undernutrition. However, the full version of the MNA is not a substitute for a full nutritional assessment by a trained nutrition professional. The time intervals recommended for screening using the MNA are annually in the community and every three months in institutions or if the people have been identified as suffering from malnutrition or if they present a risk of malnutrition and when a change of their clinical condition.
The MNA was developed by Nestlé and international leading geriatricians. Validated by international studies in various places of life.