Nutritional assessment of patients with cirrhosis in the South West requires improvement: results of the Evaluation of NutRItion in CirrHosis (ENRICH) Study

Abstract

Malnutrition is a concern for all inpatients; however, those with cirrhosis are particularly at risk. Current guidelines recommend standardised nutritional assessment of all inpatients with advanced chronic liver disease (eg, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)) followed by specialist dietician review within 24 hours to commence nutritional support.1 Such nutritional optimisation has been shown to improve symptoms, quality of life, morbidity and mortality.2 Severn and Peninsula Research in Gastroenterology is a trainee research network. The Evaluation of NutRItion in CirrHosis is a trainee-led retrospective regional service evaluation of dietetic provision to inpatients with cirrhosis in the South West of England against current guidelines from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.1 3 The aim was to evaluate the nutritional management of inpatients with cirrhosis to inform improvements in current services. The objectives were to determine the proportion of inpatients receiving nutritional assessment, referral to dietetics and/or the proportion appropriately commenced on nutritional support. Data was collected from admissions in …