Analysis of nutrition support in COVID19 critical care patients

ABSTRACT

The aim of this analysis was to determine route and adequacy of nutrition support in patients with COVID19 during the first 7 days of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Nutrition parameters were collected for all patients admitted to ICU with COVID19 and compared to best practice guidelines1. Of the initial 64 patients admitted to ICU for management of COVID19, all patients were assessed by a critical care dietitian. Patients who were tolerating oral diet were commenced on oral nutrition support as appropriate. Forty eight patients (75%) required enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN). The feeding route of choice for the majority of patients was EN (89.5%). In patients with gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance where strategies to optimise tolerance were unsuccessful, supplementary or total PN was used (10.5%). Energy and protein intakes during the early and late acute phase are described below. [Formula presented] Energy intakes in the early acute phase were consistent with best practice guidelines while protein provision was a challenge in both phases. GI intolerance was common which compromised nutrition intakes, though proned position did not affect these outcomes. Where strategies to improve GI tolerance are unsuccessful supplementary PN should be considered without delay to optimise nutrition intake. References 1Singer et al. Clinical Nutrition (2019) 38(1), 48-79. Disclosure of Interest None Declared