Despite the inherent difficulties of measuring nutritional status, the evidence strongly suggests that malnutrition does in fact predispose to pressure ulcer development. Fortunately, malnutrition is a reversible risk factor and a recent Cochrane review concluded that older patients in the acute phase of an illness who are provided with nutrition support are significantly less likely to develop a pressure ulcer. The key is the early identification of the patients who are at the greatest risk through nutritional screening so that interventions can be initiated when it is most likely to have maximum impact.