. 2018 Jun 4;2018(6):CD007867. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007867.pub2

4. Subgroup analyses.

Subgroup	N participants (n studies)	Subgroup testing
1. Nutrition status
1.1. Length of hospital stay
Obese	13 (1 RCT)	I² = 0%, P = 0.76
General	1664 (9 RCTs)
2. Route of nutrition support
2.1. Length of hospital stay
Parenteral	150 (4 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.72
Enteral	1725 (6 RCTs)
2.2. Length of ICU stay
Parenteral	75 (2 RCTs)	I² = 83.3%, P < 0.01
Enteral	2867 (9 RCTs)
2.3. Infectious complications
Parenteral	137 (3 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.35
Enteral	2667 (7 RCTs)
2.4. Length of mechanical ventilation
Parenteral	73 (2 RCTs)	I² = 85.4%, P < 0.01
Enteral	2927 (10 RCTs)
3. Type of participant
3.1. Length of hospital stay
Surgical participants	223 (5 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.55
Medical participants	1354 (5 RCTs)
3.2. Length of ICU stay
Surgical participants	158 (3 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.52
Medical participants	2784 (8 RCTs)
3.3. Infectious complications
Surgical participants	220 (4 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.45
Medical participants	2584 (6 RCTs)
3.4. Length of mechanical ventilation
Surgical participants	156 (3 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.45
Medical participants	2854 (9 RCTs)
4. Amount of calories received by each study group
4.1. Length of hospital stay
Normo‐hypercaloric	97 (2 RCTs)	I² = 84.1%, P < 0.01
Hypocaloric	1370 (6 RCT)
Very hypocaloric	150 ( RCT)
4.2. Length of ICU stay
Normo‐hypercaloric	75 (2 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.42
Hypocaloric	1517 (6 RCTs)
Very hypocaloric	1350 (3 RCTs)
4.3. Infectious complications
Normo‐hypercaloric	97 (2 RCTs)	I² = 0%, P = 0.94
Hypocaloric	1357 (5 RCTs)
Very hypocaloric	1350 (3 RCTs)
4.4. Length of mechanical ventilation
Normo‐hypercaloric	73 (2 RCTs)	I² = 73.1%, P = 0.02
Hypocaloric	1517 (6 RCTs)
Very hypocaloric	1350 (3 RCTs)

RCT = randomized controlled trial; ICU = Intensive care unit