Table 1.

Criteria for determining patients at high risk of developing RFS

Patient has one or more of the following:

• a BMI of less than 16 kg/m2

• unintentional weight loss greater than 15% within the last 3–6 months

• little or no nutritional intake for more than 10 days

• low levels of potassium, phosphate, or magnesium prior to feeding

Or patient has two or more of the following:

• a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2

• unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last 3–6 months

• little or no nutritional intake for more than 5 days

• a history of alcohol abuse or drugs including insulin, chemotherapy, antacids, or diuretics

BMI body mass index, RFS refeeding syndrome