[Phase angle as an indicator of nutritional status and prognosis in critically ill patients].
BACKGROUND
The phase angle (PA) has been considered a sensitive tool to assess nutritional status and effectiveness of interventions dietetics.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the PA as an indicator of nutritional status and prognosis in critically ill patients.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of patients admitted to the Coronary Intensive Care Unit between May and October 2013. The PA was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis, PA was considered low below 5º values for men and 4.6º for women. The values obtained were related to other evaluation parameters of nutritional status: anthropometric (arm circumference - AC , triceps skinfold thickness - TST , corrected arm muscle area - AMAc and calf circumference - CC) and biochemical (total lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), in addition to clinical prognostic APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System II) and serum albumin. The tabulation and analysis were performed using SPSS version 13.0.


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 110 patients, in which an association was found between low AF and renal failure on dialysis (p < 0.001), % adequacy AC (p = 0.028), % adequacy of TST (p = 0.043), albumin level (p = 0.042), anemia (p = 0.040) and APACHE II (p = 0.012) scores. The AF was positively correlated with CC (p= 0.043) and inversely with the length of hospitalization (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
PA in the ICU may be useful to identify early and malnourished patients as a prognostic indicator.
Pronto Socorro Cardiológico Universitário de Pernambuco. Brasil.. renatareis.nutri@hotmail.com.
Renata
R
Reis de Lima e Silva
Pronto Socorro Cardiológico Universitário de Pernambuco. Brasil.. renatareis.nutri@hotmail.com.
Cláudia
C
Porto Sabino Pinho
Pronto Socorro Cardiológico Universitário de Pernambuco. Brasil.. renatareis.nutri@hotmail.com.
Isa
I
Galvão Rodrigues
Pronto Socorro Cardiológico Universitário de Pernambuco. Brasil.. renatareis.nutri@hotmail.com.
José
J
Gildo de Moura Monteiro Júnior
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D015897:Comorbidity; D016638:Critical Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial