Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the prescription of protein-calorie nutrition and its adequacy to the requirements of preterm newborns. Methods Prospective study with 30 preterm infants from a neonate intensive unit care. Anthropometric and nutritional therapy data were collected daily. Nutritional demands were defined according to the national guidelines. Protein-calorie nutritional support was considered adequate when it reached 70% of the calculated demand. The evolution of nutritional status was evaluated according to the growth curves of preterm infants. Statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20.0, at a 5% significance level. Results The means of demand, prescription and infusion significantly differed from each other. The values of calories and proteins prescribed and infused were inadequate according to the calculated ones. There was no significant difference between the volume of prescribed and administered nutrition (p>0.05). At birth, 30% of the children were small, 66.7% were adequate, and 3.3% were large for gestational age. At discharge, the percentages were 33.3%; 63.3%; 3.3%, respectively. The values at birth significantly differed from those at discharge (p<0.01). Conclusion In the Unit of Neonatal Care studied, inadequate nutrient prescription and support is a factor that can compromise the nutritional status of the newborns at hospital discharge.
Highlights
The survival rate of Preterm Newborns (PTNB) is increasing, ranging from 17% to 90%, depending on the Gestational Age (GA) [1,2,3]
In the Unit of Neonatal Care studied, inadequate nutrient prescription and support is a factor that can compromise the nutritional status of the newborns at hospital discharge
Due to the reported importance of nurturing PTNBs at the right time, through the correct feeding route, and in the right quantity, the present study evaluated the prescription of protein-calorie nutrition by measuring its adequacy to individual needs, comparing the volume of prescribed and administered nutritional support, and investigating the relationship between the adequacy of nutritional support and the evolution of the nutritional status
Summary
The survival rate of Preterm Newborns (PTNB) is increasing, ranging from 17% to 90%, depending on the Gestational Age (GA) [1,2,3]. The nutrition of PTNB should promote growth similar to intrauterine growth, without causing stress due to immaturity, and prevent the following consequences resulting from inadequate nutrition: metabolic acidosis, persistent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuremia, and hyperammonemia [5,6,7]. After the first week of life, rapid recovery weight loss after birth is expected, resulting from changes in tissue fluid composition, clinical and therapeutic conditions, and nutritional support. For preterm infants, the action of stressors and inadequacy of Nutritional Therapy (NT) make weight recovery difficult and slow [1]. Due to the immaturity of the digestive processes, associated with their anatomical conditions, there is no consensus when it is the right moment or how to begin NT for PTNB.
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