ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND EARLY ENTERAL FEEDING IN CRITICALLY SICK OBESE INDIVIDUALS FROM INDIA

Abstract

Background: Existing recommendations recommend starting nutritional assistance for critically sick patients within 24-
48 hours after admission to the ICU. However, there is limited information on the usefulness of early nutrition in these
conditions.
Aim: The current study sought to investigate the relationship between clinical outcomes and early enteral feeding (within
12 hours of admission to the ICU) in critically sick obese participants from India.
Methods: The current study evaluated 280 severely obese and intubated participants based on the WHO-Asian obese
BMI categorization, with a minimum ICU stay of three days. individuals getting EN within 12 hours were compared to
those receiving EN beyond 12 hours (late EN), with 142 and 138 individuals respectively. The outcomes evaluated were
target calorie percentage, target protein attained on the third day, total protein and calories supplied, length of stay (LOS)
hospital, LOS ICU, mechanical ventilation days, and death.