title: [Not Available].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enteral nutrition is an important therapy for severely critically ill patients. The timing and amount of energy have been highly debated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to directly compare the timing and the caloric targets in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study conducted at a single center, comparing timing and caloric goal for critically ill patients. Patients were stratified according to the start of nutritional therapy (24, 48, or more than 48 h) and the amount of energy delivered (target adequacy of previously calculated percentage in the first week). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and non-parametric tests for independent samples and logistic regression. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or incidence and percentage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no differences in major clinical outcomes in relation to the achievement of percentage of caloric goal at the end of the first week of the study. The beginning of caloric intake on the first day of hospitalization was associated with reduced mortality in the intensive care unit, but not with hospital mortality. The strategy of an early and limited amount of calories seems to be associated with a better outcome. Prospective studies evaluating and comparing these strategies are recommended.
authors: School of Medicine. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre. Brazil. oellen.franzosi@gmail.com.
authors: Oellen Stuani
authors: OS
authors: Franzosi
authors: Sergio Henrique
authors: SH
authors: Loss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Critical care. Nutrition therapy. Early nutrition. Energy intake. Caloric goal. Mortality.