Feeding practices of severely ill intensive care unit patients: an evaluation of energy sources and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The quantity of nutrition that is provided to intensive care unit (ICU) patients has recently come under more scrutiny in relation to clinical outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to assess energy intake in severely ill ICU patients and to evaluate the relationship of energy intake with clinical outcomes.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: Seventy-seven adult surgery and medical ICU patients with length of ICU stay of at least 5 days.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Student's t test and chi2 tests were used to examine ICU populations. To determine the relationship of patient variables to hospital length of stay and ICU, length of stay regression trees were calculated.

RESULTS: Both groups were underfed with 50% of goal met in surgical ICU and 56% of goal met in medical ICU. Medical ICU patients received less propofol and significantly less dextrose-containing intravenous fluids when compared to surgical ICU patients (P=0.013). From regression analysis, approaching full nutrient requirements during ICU stay was associated with greater hospital length of stay and ICU length of stay. For combined groups, if % goal was > or =82%, the estimated average value for ICU length of stay was 24 days; whereas, if the % goal was <82%, the average ICU length of stay was 12 days. This relationship held true for hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS: Medical and surgical ICU patients were insufficiently fed during their ICU stay when compared with registered dietitian recommendations. Medical ICU patients received earlier nutrition support, on average more enteral nutrition, with fewer kilocalories supplied from lipid-based sedatives and intravenous fluid relative to surgical ICU patients. Based upon length of stay, the data suggest that the most severely ill patient may not benefit from delivery of full nutrient needs in the ICU.