title: Optimal protein and energy nutrition decreases mortality in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients: a prospective observational cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optimal nutrition for patients in the intensive care unit has been proposed to be the provision of energy as determined by indirect calorimetry and the provision of protein of at least 1.2 g/kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational cohort study in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit in an academic hospital. In total, 886 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients were included. Nutrition was guided by indirect calorimetry and protein provision of at least 1.2 g/kg. Cumulative intakes were calculated for the period of mechanical ventilation. Cox regression was used to analyze the effect of protein + energy target achieved or energy target achieved versus neither target achieved on 28-day mortality, with adjustments for sex, age, body mass index, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, diagnosis, and hyperglycemic index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' mean age was 63 ± 16 years; body mass index, 26 ± 6; and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, 23 ± 8. For neither target, energy target, and protein + energy target, energy intake was 75% ± 15%, 96% ± 5%, and 99% ± 5% of target, and protein intake was 72% ± 20%, 89% ± 10%, and 112% ± 12% of target, respectively. Hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for energy target and protein + energy target were 0.83 (0.67-1.01) and 0.47 (0.31-0.73) for 28-day mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optimal nutritional therapy in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients, defined as protein and energy targets reached, is associated with a decrease in 28-day mortality by 50%, whereas only reaching energy targets is not associated with a reduction in mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. p.weijs@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Peter J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weijs
authors.forename: Sandra N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Stapel
authors.forename: Sabine D W
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Ronald H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Armand R J
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Girbes
authors.forename: Rob J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Strack van Schijndel
authors.forename: Albertus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beishuizen
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins