This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.
A screening score from routine blood tests
The CONUT score (Controlling Nutritional Status), proposed by Ignacio de Ulíbarri in 2005, screens hospitalized patients for undernutrition automatically from three blood tests that are often already available: albumin (protein reserves), total cholesterol (calorie reserves) and the lymphocyte count (immune defenses).
The points
| Marker | 0 points | Middle points | Highest points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albumin (g/dL) | 3.5 or more | 3.0 to 3.49: 2; 2.5 to 2.99: 4 | under 2.5: 6 |
| Lymphocytes (per mm³) | 1,600 or more | 1,200 to 1,599: 1; 800 to 1,199: 2 | under 800: 3 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 180 or more | 140 to 179: 1; 100 to 139: 2 | under 100: 3 |
The total ranges from 0 to 12.
| CONUT | Undernutrition |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Normal |
| 2 to 4 | Light |
| 5 to 8 | Moderate |
| 9 to 12 | Severe |
Example
Albumin 3.2 g/dL (2 points), 1,100 lymphocytes per mm³ (2 points) and total cholesterol of 160 mg/dL (1 point) give a CONUT score of 5: moderate undernutrition.
Why it is used
Because it needs no interview or measurement at the bedside, CONUT can screen every admitted patient through the laboratory system. Studies have linked high scores with longer hospital stays, complications and mortality in surgery, cancer, heart failure and older patients.
Limits
- Statins lower cholesterol and can add points without undernutrition.
- Inflammation, liver disease and corticosteroids lower albumin and lymphocytes.
- It is a screening tool: a positive result calls for a full nutritional assessment, including weight history and food intake.
The Prognostic Nutritional Index uses albumin and lymphocytes in a continuous formula instead of points.