To evaluate the prevalence of hospitalized patients who receive artificial nutrition, the type of patients who resort to artificial nutrition, the appropriateness of the latter in terms of specificity with respect to the clinical condition, and the adequacy of the caloric-protein intake provided to the patient.
Despite detailed recommendations provided by international scientific societies, numerous studies highlight substantial variability and deficiencies in clinical practice, notably delays in initiating artificial nutrition (AN), inadequate caloric and protein dosing, and disparities in treatment across patient groups. Unfortunately, applying the general recommendations to nutritional therapy for polymorbid patients is particularly challenging for healthcare providers without specific nutrition training, as disease-specific quantitative and qualitative nutritional requirements must be considered. In this report, we present results obtained from data collected on hospitalized patients undergoing AN across 35 medical and surgical wards and the intensive care unit of a university hospital in Southern Italy. In all these cases, the decisions regarding the type (enteral/parenteral) and the intensity (calories/proteins) of the nutritional interventions observed were made by the physicians working on the wards. This study describes the application of AN in real-world hospital settings, identifying the main critical issues and suggesting possible interventions to improve clinical practice.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
578
Polyclinic University Hospital
Bari, BA, Italy
Prevalence of patients receiving artificial nutrition during their hospitalization.
Among the 578 hospitalized patients, 56 (9.7%; 30 males, 26 females), with a mean age of 67.1 ± 11.6 years, were receiving artificial nutrition (AN). The modalities of AN administration were as follows: total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in 39 patients, enteral nutrition (EN) in 16 patients, and EN plus supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) in 1 patient.
Time frame: Baseline evaluation was performed for all patients on the same day, which corresponded to a variable time from the beginning of hospitalization.
Evaluation of the total amount of calories received
The total caloric intake received by each patient was calculated based on the characteristics of nutritional parenteral and enteral products and the duration of their infusion. The appropriateness of the caloric intake was calculated using the most accurate prediction formula suggested for a specific body mass index (BMI) range.
Time frame: Baseline evaluation was performed for all patients on the same day, which corresponded to a variable time from the beginning of hospitalization.
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