Influence of different routes of nutrition on the respiratory muscle strength and outcome of elderly patients in respiratory intensive care unit

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Objective To compare the influences of different routes of nutrition on the outcome and respiratory muscle strength of elderly patients in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods Totally 147 elderly patients in RICU were equally randomized into combined nutrition group ( combinination of parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition), total enteral nutrition (EN) group, and total parenteral nutrition (PN) group. The changes of energy metabolism, respiratory muscle strength, and short-term outcome were observed or determined.Results Plasma albumin (ALB), hemoglobin (Hb), creatinine (Cr) levels, and nitrogen balance significantly increased in all group 7 days later ( all P ＜ 0. 01 ), while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) significantly decreased ( P ＜0.01 ). The increase of ALB, Hb, Cr levels, and nitrogen balance were significantly more remarkable than that in EN group and PN group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). The decrease of BUN level in the combined nutrition group was significantly more remarkable than that in EN group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). After nutritional support, the maximum inspiratory pressure in the combined nutrition group (P =0. 021 ) and EN group (P = 0. 011 ) became significantly higher, and occlusion pressure at 0.1 second inspiration level in the combined nutrition group became significantly lower ( P =0. 025). The incidences of infectious and non-infectious complications in PN group were significantly higher than those in EN group (P = 0. 002 and 0. 017, respectively) and combined nutrition group ( P = 0. 005 and 0. 004, respectively). Gastric retention was more common in EN group than that in PN group ( P = 0. 035). The weaning time,length of RICU stay, length of hospital stay and 20-day-mortality were significantly decreased in the combined nutrition group than those in the other two groups ( all P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion The effectiveness of the combined application of PN and EN is superior to PN or EN alone in improving nutritional status and respiratory muscle strength as well as in improving the short-term outcome in elderly patients in RICU.. Key words: Enteral nutrition; Parenteral nutrition; Elderly patients in respiratory intensive care unit; Respiratory muscle strength; clinical outcome