Nutritional Assessment of ICU Inpatients with Tube Feeding

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the general status of tube feeding for intensive care unit (ICU) inpatients and evaluated the consequent nutritional status of patients. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of a general hospital located in Daegu metropolitan city. The subjects of this study were 80 adult patients who had been admitted to the ICU of a hospital, received fed tube feeding, and then been discharged. The differences in nutrition screening indicators, including percentage ideal body weight (PIBW), serum albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol, before and after tube feeding according to body mass index (BMI) or nutrient feeding levels were investigated. The ratios of actually provided amounts to calorie and protein requirements of patients were 72.8+/-15.8% and 72.6+/-19.8%, respectively. The change in PIBW before and after tube feeding was significantly different among the BMI groups (P or =80%) according to the ratio of actually provided calories to required calories, there was no significant difference in nutrition screening indicators before and after tube feeding. When the subjects were divided into three groups ( or =80%) according to the ratio of actually provided protein to required protein, serum albumin concentration showed a significant difference among the groups before and after tube feeding (P<0.05). Therefore, an intensive nutrition intervention program would be needed for the nutritional improvement of ICU inpatients receiving tube feeding.