Is the use of specialized nutritional formulations a cost-effective strategy? A national database evaluation.

Background: We apply currently published clinical outcomes data to length of stay and hospital cost to determine the potential economic benefit associated with the use of specialized nutritional formulations in elective surgical, trauma, and medical patients. Although the use of immune-modulating formulations has repeatedly shown favorable clinical outcomes, including decreased complications (both infectious and noninfectious), length of stay (both ICU and total days), and ventilator days, the cost-effectiveness of nutritional modulation of the immune response in a US-based population has not previously been explored.

Methods: Data for the current study were obtained from a large national database with 126 member hospitals and data from over 1 million patients.