Table 2.
Clinical characteristics according to the improvement of nitrogen balance.
| Improvement of Nitrogen Balance (n = 39, 50.6%) | No Improvement/Aggravation of Nitrogen Balance (n = 38, 49.4%) | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 62.7 ± 15.1 | 58.6 ± 17.5 | 0.273 |
| Male, n (%) | 21 (53.8) | 20 (52.6) | 0.915 |
| BMI (Kg/m2), mean ± SD | 22.1 ± 4.2 | 23.0 ± 3.9 | 0.375 |
| HT, n (%) | 16 (41.0) | 19 (50.0) | 0.429 |
| DM, n (%) | 7 (17.9) | 11 (28.9) | 0.254 |
| HL, n (%) | 5 (12.8) | 5 (13.2) | 1.000 |
| CAD, n (%) | 3 (7.7) | 2 (5.3) | 1.000 |
| A. fib, n (%) | 5 (12.8) | 5 (13.2) | 1.000 |
| Previous stroke/TIA, n (%) | 12 (30.8) | 3 (7.9) | 0.011 |
| Cancer, n (%) | 3 (7.7) | 5 (13.2) | 0.481 |
| GI diseases, n (%) | 1 (2.6) | 1 (2.6) | 1.000 |
| Initial GCS, median (IQR) | 6.0 (5–11) | 6.5 (5–11.25) | 0.750 |
| F/U GCS, median (IQR) | 9.0 (6.0–13.0) | 7.0 (3–12.25) | 0.075 |
| APACHE II score, median (IQR) | 25 (21–28) | 26 (21.5–28.5) | 0.478 |
| NUTRIC score, median (IQR) | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | 0.343 |
| Nutritional support, n (%) | 39 (97.4) | 34 (89.5) | 0.200 |
| Initial protein balance (g/day), mean ± SD | −58.3 ± 40.6 | −55.7 ± 40.7 | 0.782 |
| Initial negative nitrogen balance, n (%) | 36 (92.3) | 35 (92.1) | 1.000 |
| % of IBW, mean ± SD | 105.7 ± 21.3 | 110.8 ± 21.1 | 0.289 |
| Body weight loss, n (%) | 17 (43.6) | 19 (50.0) | 0.573 |
| Total I/O, mean ± SD | 1742.3 ± 3630.6 | 1658.8 ± 2384.7 | 0.906 |
| Negative I/O, n (%) | 12 (30.8) | 9 (23.7) | 0.485 |
| Diagnosis, n (%) | 0.445 | ||
| IS | 10 (25.6) | 5 (13.2) | |
| SAH | 10 (25.6) | 8 (21.1) | |
| SDH | 6 (15.4) | 8 (21.1) | |
| ICH | 6 (15.4) | 8 (21.1) | |
| SE | 2 (5.1) | 1 (2.6) | |
| Others | 5 (12.8) | 11 (28.9) | |
| Initial Nutrition supplement, n (%) | 0.077 | ||
| NPO | 8 (20.5) | 13 (34.2) | |
| EN | 27 (69.2) | 25 (65.8) | |
| PN | 4 (10.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| F/U Nutrition supplement, n (%) | 0.341 | ||
| EN | 17 (43.6) | 23 (60.5) | |
| PN | 3 (7.7) | 3 (7.9) | |
| EN with PN | 19 (48.7) | 12 (31.6) | |
| Protein intake on admission (g/kg), mean ± SD | 0.66 ± 0.56 | 0.54 ± 0.48 | 0.289 |
| Calorie intake on admission (kcal/kg), mean ± SD | 12.0 ± 10.1 | 10.4 ± 9.00 | 0.455 |
| Protein intake on follow up (g/kg), mean ± SD | 1.94 ± 0.63 | 1.28 ± 0.54 | <0.001 |
| Calorie intake on follow up (kcal/kg), mean ± SD | 25.3 ± 7.5 | 21.5 ± 7.9 | 0.037 |
| Initial BUN (mg/dl), mean ± SD | 16.3 ± 8.3 | 16.0 ± 10.1 | 0.885 |
| F/U BUN (mg/dl), mean ± SD | 23.9 ± 9.6 | 22.9 ± 11.8 | 0.692 |
| Initial Creatinine (mg/dl), mean ± SD | 0.64 ± 0.30 | 0.71 ± 0.43 | 0.389 |
| F/U Creatinine (mg/dl), mean ± SD | 0.62 ± 0.39 | 0.68 ± 0.49 | 0.551 |
| Event, n (%) | 0.348 | ||
| Coma therapy | 2 (5.1) | 3 (7.9) | |
| TTM | 2 (5.1) | 3 (7.9) | |
| Decompressive surgery | 6 (15.4) | 2 (5.3) | |
| Decompressive surgery with TTM | 1 (2.6) | 5 (13.2) | |
| Others | 2 (5.1) | 3 (7.9) | |
| Blood transfusion, n (%) | 0.115 | ||
| Packed red blood cell | 0 (0.0) | 3 (7.9) | |
| Sepsis during ICU care, n (%) | 5 (12.8) | 3 (7.9) | 0.711 |
| ARDS during ICU care, n (%) | 5 (12.8) | 2 (5.3) | 0.431 |
| Development of AKI, n (%) | 3 (7.7) | 2 (5.3) | 1.000 |
| NICU admission to initial UUN day, median (IQR) | 1 (1–2.3) | 1.5 (1–2) | 0.805 |
| NICU admission to F/U UUN day, median (IQR) | 6 (5–9) | 7 (4–8) | 0.692 |
| Good outcome at 3 months (mRS = 0–3), n (%) | 16 (41.0) | 7 (18.4) | 0.046 |
| Neurological worsening, n (%) | 6 (15.4) | 14 (36.8) | 0.032 |
| In-hospital mortality, n (%) | 5 (12.8) | 12 (31.6) | 0.047 |
| Hospital length of stay (days), median (IQR) | 38.0 (25.0–75.0) | 33.5 (23.0–67.25) | 0.610 |
| NICU length of stay (days), median (IQR) | 18.0 (10.0–32.0) | 20.50 (13.75–33.25) | 0.815 |
BMI: body mass index, HT: hypertension, DM: diabetes mellitus, HL: hyperlipidemia, CAD: coronary artery disease, A. fib: atrial fibrillation, TIA: transient ischemic attack, GI: gastrointestinal, GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale, F/U: follow up, IBW: ideal body weight, I/O: input/output, IS: ischemic stroke, SAH: subarachnoid hemorrhage, SDH: subdural hemorrhage, ICH: intracerebral hemorrhage, SE: status epilepticus, NPO: nil per os, EN: enteral nutrition, PN: parenteral nutrition, BUN: blood urea nitrogen, ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome, AKI: acute kidney injury, mRS: modified Rankin Scale, TTM: targeted temperature management, UUN: urine urea nitrogen, IQR: interquartile range, NICU: neurointensive care unit.