Korean J Crit Care Med.  2005 Jun;20(1):49-53.

Energy Deficiency Aggravates Clinical Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients

• Chung HK
• Lee SM
• Lee JH
• Shin CS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Adequate nutrition support reduces infectious complications, mortality and length of hospitalizationin intensive care unit. However, there are multi factors like frequent null per os (NPO) due to examination, intolerance to tube feeding, complication of TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and ineffective recognition by medical staff. The purpose of this study is to identify detrimental effects of cumulative energy deficiency in critically ill patients. METHODS: The patients who were received tube feeding or total parenteral nutrition for more than 5 days were investigated. Daily and cumulative energy deficiency was tabulated until oral intake was achieved or until they discharged or died. Patients were divided into two groups, severe energy deficient group (>10, 000 kcal) or mild energy deficient group (<5, 000 kcal). Then we compared clinical outcomes between two groups. RESULTS: Total 150 patients were studied. 48 (32%) patients were severe energy deficient group and 42 (28%) patients were mild energy deficient group. Mortality and nosocomial infection were significantly higher in severe energy deficient group than in mild group. Hospital day and ICU day were significantly higher in severe energy deficient group than in mild group. CONCLUSIONS: Severe energy deficiency was very common in critically ill patients and it deteriorated the clinical outcomes such as mortality, nosocomial infection, hospital day and ICU day.

Keyword

Clinical outcomes; Critically ill patient; Energy deficiency

MeSH Terms

Critical Illness*
Cross Infection
Enteral Nutrition
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Medical Staff
Mortality
Parenteral Nutrition, Total