TABLE 4.
Comparison by Initiation Time of Enteral Nutrition (n = 155)
| Characteristics | Started within 24 hours of starting mechanical ventilation (n = 60) | Started after 24 hours of starting mechanical ventilation (n = 95) | P‐value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, mean (SD) | 58.3 (14.1) | 61.5 (13.6) | .166 |
| Weight, kg, median (IQR) | 100 (33.3) | 96 (36) | .481 |
| BMI (median) | 33.2 (12.8) | 33.2 (11.2) | .530 |
| APACHE II, mean (SD) | 23.4 (6.4) | 26.8 (7.5) | .005 |
| SOFA, mean (SD) | 9.0 (2.8) | 10.4 (3.1) | .006 |
| NUTRIC ≥ 5, n (%) | 38 (63.3) | 75 (78.9) | .042 |
| PaO2/FiO2 ratio, median (IQR) | 142 (81.5) | 118 (83) | .594 |
| Neuromuscular blockade, n (%) | 19 (31.7) | 29 (30.5) | 1.00 |
| Inhaled nitric oxide, n (%) | 10 (16.7) | 10 (10.5) | .327 |
| Prone positioning, n (%) | 15 (25) | 26 (27.4) | .852 |
| ECMO, n (%) | 3 (5) | 3 (3.2) | .677 |
| Tocilizumab, n (%) | 25 (41.7) | 45 (47.4) | .512 |
| Daily calories, kcal/kg/d, mean (SD) | 17.5 (4.7) | 15.2 (5.8) | .015 |
| Daily protein, g/kg/d, mean (SD) | 1.04 (0.34) | 0.85 (0.39) | .003 |
| Time to starting enteral nutrition, d, median (IQR) | 0.65 (0.47) | 1.99 (2.43) | .006 |
| Inpatient length of stay, d, median (IQR) | 18.5 (24.4) | 23.5 (21.5) | .37 |
| Mortality, n (%) | 17 (28.3) | 25 (26.3) | .842 |
| ICU length of stay, d, median (IQR) | 12.9 (10.1) | 14.7 (17.9) | .07 |
| Days alive and ventilator free at 60, mean (SD) | 31.3 (22.3) | 33.3 (20.7) | .743 |
| Tracheostomy, n (%) | 7 (11.7) | 19 (20) | .194 |
| Discharge to home, n (%) | 24 (40) | 38 (40) | 1.00 |
| Days of hyperglycemia, mean (SD) | 4.4 (2.6) | 3.5 (2.7) | .048 |
| Hypoglycemia, n (%) | 8 (13.3) | 10 (10.5) | .615 |
| Severe hypophosphatemia, n (%) | 14 (23.3) | 10 (10.5) | .04 |
APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; BMI, body mass index; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; ICU, intensive care unit; IQR, interquartile range; NUTRIC, Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill; PaO2, partial pressure of oxygen; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.