Predictors analysis of malnutritional risk in patients admitted to intensive care unit in the first 36 hours. An observational study

Introduction. Contributing factors to the development of malnutrition include the presence of a critical illness. A state of malnutrition is associated with worse outcomes, such as prolonged length of stay and mechanical ventilation, increased risk of contracting infections and developing pressure sores, increased readmission rates, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of the following study is to is to identify predictors of early nutritional risk in critical illness in relation to mNUTRIC, in the first 36 hours of ICU admission. Methods. This is a single-center observational study. The sample consisted of 103 patients admitted to the ICUs of a university hospital in central-southern Italy. The instrument, created on the basis of the literature review, is made of 25 items. A descriptive statistycal analysis was then conducted and the correlation between the items of the instrument and the independent variables were analyzed with Kendall's Tau. Multiple regression analysis was performed, which was evaluated to describe the relationship between the variables, therefore to determine how the various coefficients affect the mNUTRIC variables. Results. The sample had a mean age of 62.25 years, with a mean risk of malnourishment of 3.30 on the mNUTRIC scale. The overall model was statistically significant (F(3, 85) = 31.92, p < .001), age showed a significant positive effect (β = .485, t = 6.43, p < .001) as well as lactates that showed a significant positive effect (β = .204, t = 2.73, p = .008) and the positive and significant effects of meccanical ventilation and sedation (β = .423; t = 5.625; p < .001). Discussion and Conclusions. Predictor analysis has succeeded in defining variables that can be considered to improve early metabolic consequences in critically ill patients. Therefore, it is necessary to create rapid and comprehensive tools with specific variables to reduce malnutrition conditions early and activate ad hoc nutritional pathways in critically ill patients.