Incidence of hypophosphatemia in not critically ill patients with enteral feeding

Abstract

Up to 30-40% of the patients starting artificial nutritional support develop hypophosphatemia. In general, patients with mild and moderate hypophosphatemia do not have symptoms, but severe hypophosphatemia is the hallmark of refeeding syndrome. To determine the incidence of hypophosphatemia in not critically ill patients receiving enteral feeding. Prospective study. We assessed during seven days 181 not critically ill patients started on enteral artificial nutrition support during seven days. 51.9% of the patients were considered to be at risk of developing refeeding syndrome (United Kingdom National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criteria). The incidence of hypophosphatemia was 31.5%, but only 1.1% of the patients developed severe hypophosphatemia. Older age and lower plasma proteins were significantly associated with hypophosphatemia. The incidence of severe hypophosphatemia in our study is low, so we can't offer robust conclusions about the risk of hypophosphatemia in the type of patients receiving enteral nutrition.