Nutritional deficiencies during critical illness.
A significant proportion of critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) present with nutritional deficiencies. Malnourished hospitalized patients have a higher rate of complications, increased mortality, longer length of hospital stay, and increased hospital costs. Critical illness may further contribute to nutritional deteriorate with poor outcomes. Younger age, longer duration of PICU stay, congenital heart disease, burn injury, and need for mechanical ventilation support are some of the factors that are associated with worse nutritional deficiencies. Failure to estimate energy requirements accurately, barriers to bedside delivery of nutrients, and reluctance to perform regular nutritional assessments are responsible for the persistence and delayed detection of malnutrition in this cohort.
Mehta
Nilesh M
NM
Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Bader 634, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. nilesh.mehta@childrens.harvard.edu
Duggan
Christopher P
CP
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012307:Risk Factors
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients