Optimal nutrition during the period of mechanical ventilation decreases mortality in critically ill, long-term acute female patients: a prospective observational cohort study.

Introduction: Optimal nutrition for intensive care patients has been proposed to be the provision of energy as determined by indirect calorimetry, and protein provision of at least 1.2 g/kg pre-admission weight per day. The evidence supporting these nutritional goals is based on surrogate outcomes and is not yet substantiated by patient oriented, clinically meaningful endpoints. In the present study we evaluated the effects of achieving optimal nutrition in ICU patients during their period of mechanical ventilation on mortality.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study in a mixed medical-surgical, 28-bed ICU in an academic hospital. 243 sequential mixed medical-surgical patients were enrolled on day 3-5 after admission if they had an expected stay of at least another 5-7 days. They underwent indirect calorimetry as part of routine care. Nutrition was guided by the result of indirect calorimetry and we aimed to provide at least 1.2 g of protein/kg/day. Cumulative balances were calculated for the period of mechanical ventilation. Outcome parameters were ICU, 28-day and hospital mortality.

Results: In women, when corrected for weight, height, Apache II score, diagnosis category, and hyperglycaemic index, patients who reached their nutritional goals compared to those who did not, showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.199 for ICU mortality (CI 0.048-0.831; P = 0.027), a HR of 0.079 for 28 day mortality (CI 0.013-0.467; P = 0.005) and a HR of 0.328 for hospital mortality (CI 0.113-0.952; P = 0.04). Achievement of energy goals whilst not reaching protein goals, did not affect ICU mortality; the HR for 28 day mortality was 0.120 (CI 0.027-0.528; P = 0.005) and 0.318 for hospital mortality (CI 0.107-0.945; P = 0.039). No difference in outcome related to optimal feeding was found for men.

Conclusions: Optimal nutritional therapy improves ICU, 28-day and hospital survival in female ICU patients. Female patients reaching both energy and protein goals have better outcomes than those reaching only the energy goal. In the present study men did not benefit from optimal nutrition.