Which screening tool is commonly used to assess malnutrition risk and has a short form variant?

• A. Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI).
• B. Body Mass Index (BMI) as a sole tool.
• C. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA).
• D. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) or MNA-SF.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is using a quick, validated screen specifically designed for older adults to identify malnutrition risk. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) fits this need because it’s tailored to the elderly and has a short form variant (MNA-SF) that can be completed quickly, often in just a few minutes.

MNA-SF screens essential signals of malnutrition risk—recent weight change, appetite, mobility, psychological stress or acute illness, neuropsychological issues, and a simple anthropometric measure (like BMI or calf circumference). This combination allows clinicians to flag individuals who may be at risk and need a fuller nutritional evaluation or intervention, without the time and resource demands of a longer assessment.

While BMI alone doesn’t capture recent weight loss or functional decline, and the Subjective Global Assessment is more comprehensive and requires training, GNRI depends on laboratory data and isn’t typically used as a rapid screen. Therefore, the short-form Mini Nutritional Assessment best serves the purpose of quick, reliable screening with a concise version.