Height Prediction From Ulna Length of Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: Ulna length (UL) has been used in mathematical formulas to predict the body height of healthy and sick individuals. However, the evaluation of its use with patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) is scarce. The objective of this study was to develop a mathematical equation to estimate critically ill patients' height using the UL measure and to evaluate its agreement with measured standing height. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed at the ICU of a tertiary hospital in Brazil. A total of 100 patients aged ≥18 years who had their body height measured before ICU admission were enrolled. The equation was developed through multiple linear regression, and its agreement was assessed through paired Student's t test and Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: The following formula was obtained: height in cm = 153.492 - (7.97 × sex [sex: male = 1, female = 2]) + (0.974 × UL [in cm]). The difference between means of measured height (MH) and height estimated from UL was not significant (166.26 ± 8.75 cm and 166.30 ± 5.29 cm, respectively, P = .96), and a significant correlation (r = 0.624, P < .001) was detected. In the Bland-Altman analysis, UL was in agreement with MH; however, there was a significant bias (P < .001) suggesting that it may be disproportional and dependent on the average's height value. CONCLUSION: The mathematical equation for height estimation using UL developed in this study matched the MH of critically ill patients. However, we suggest more studies for its validation.

Translation and adaptation of the NUTRIC Score to identify critically ill patients who benefit the most from nutrition therapy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Due to the scarcity of tools to assess the nutritional risk in critically ill patients, the NUTrition Risk in the Critically ill Score (NUTRIC Score) was developed and validated primarily in a limited population to quantify the risk of adverse events that may be modified by aggressive nutrition therapy. The objective of this study was to translate and adapt the NUTRIC Score into Portuguese language for further demonstrate its feasibility and clinical utility in Brazilian Intensive Care Units (ICUs). METHODS: This translation and adaptation process is part of a study for the validation of NUTRIC Score in Brazil. Translation was performed according to standardized steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, revision and application of the instrument by specialists and evaluation of cultural adaptation. We conducted a pilot study within 50 patients mechanically ventilated for more than 48 h in four ICUs in Southern Brazil to determine the prevalence of patients who were the most likely to benefit from aggressive nutrition therapy. RESULTS: The translation and adaptation process produced a valid version of NUTRIC Score in the Portuguese language. The translated version was easily introduced into four Brazilian ICUs and the prevalence of patients with high score and likely to benefit from aggressive nutritional intervention (mean age 61.4 ± 15.3 years) was 46% (23 individuals, 95%CI 0.33-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: The NUTRIC Score has been successfully translated into Portuguese and the prevalence of nutritionally-high risk patients may be around 50% in Brazilian ICUs.