[Malnutrition is an independent risk factor of early complications following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy].
BACKGROUND
The relationship between malnutrition and complications occuring in hospitalized patients is debated.


OBJECTIVE
To assess prospectively the relationship between nutritional status and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-related complications and to determine the respective role of malnutrition and confounding variables on clinical outcome.


METHODS
Ninety seven patients were followed up for 30 days after PEG insertion and complications were prospectively recorded. Patients were classified as malnourished when they met one of the following criteria: body mass index<20 kg/m(2) and/or weight loss > 5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for age, sex, diagnoses, functional status, antibiotic treatment and duration of hospital stay before PEG insertion.


RESULTS
Sixty eight (70.1%) patients were malnourished. A significantly higher number of complications was seen in malnourished than in non malnourished patients (54.4% vs 31%; odds-ratio (OR): 2.65 [CI 95%: 1.06-6.66]; P=0.04). One-month mortality did not significantly differ between malnourished and non malnourished patients. Multivariate analysis showed that malnutrition (OR: 3.15 [1.21-8.24]; P=0.02) and > 10-day hospital stay (OR: 2.77 [1.13-6.82]; P=0.03) were significantly associated with early complications.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that malnutrition increases the risk of early complications after PEG insertion, independently of the underlying diseases and functional status of the patients.
Beau
P
P
Unité de Gastroentérologie et Assistance Nutritive, Hôpital Jean-Bernard, Poitiers, France. p.beau@chu-pitiers.fr
Kull
E
E
Kaffy
F
F
Matrat
S
S
Ingrand
P
P
D004724:Endoscopy; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome