Malnutrition-related Complications Research Articles

B-067 Performance Assessment of a Newly Developed Lateral Flow Assay for the Quantification of Faecal Pancreatic Elastase

Abstract Background Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) can be defined as an insufficient secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bicarbonate to maintain a normal digestion (1). PEI is associated to fat malabsorption, weight loss and malnutrition-related complications. Due to its important role in the digestive process, as a proteolytic enzyme and the high stability of the enzyme during intestinal transit, fecal pancreatic elastase (fPELA) is an ideal biomarker for the assessment of pancreatic function in patients suffering from PEI. The aim of this work was to develop and optimize a new rapid test for the quantification of fPELA. Methods A quantitative lateral flow assay was designed for the selective measurement of elastase antigen concentrations from stool extracts. The BÜHLMANN Quantum Blue® fPELA is a sandwich immunoassay. A monoclonal detection antibody is conjugated to gold nanoparticles. Elastase present in the sample binds to this gold conjugate. A polyclonal capture antibody, highly specific for elastase, is immobilized on the analytical membrane and captures the complex of elastase bound to the anti-elastase gold conjugate, resulting in a coloring of the test line. The remaining free anti-elastase gold conjugate binds to the control line. The signal intensities of the test line and the control line are measured quantitatively by the Quantum Blue® Reader. Pancreatic elastase is quantified in extracts of human stool samples collected with the BÜHLMANN CALEX® Cap device. Several analytical studies, such as sensitivity, linearity, High Dose Hook Effect (HDHE), were performed during optimization phase to assess the performance of the assay. Moreover, a method comparison with the commercially available high throughput turbidimetric BÜHLMANN fPELA® turbo assay was also performed. Results Both analytical and clinical performance were evaluated. Preliminary results of the assay performance were obtained during the optimization phase. Analytical sensitivity was determined as 12.8 µg/g LoB, 16.6 µg/g LoD and 17.2 µg/g LoQ. The linearity evaluation revealed a linear range of 10 to 472 µg/g. No HDHE was observed in native samples up to 4000 µg/g. Method comparison of the new lateral flow assay with BÜHLMANN fPELA® turbo assay, with 80 clinical samples, revealed good analytical agreement with a slope of 1.04 (Passing-Bablok) and a bias at cutoff (200 µg/g) of 5.6%. Relative bias (Bland-Altman) of the two assays was 6.9%. Considering the turbidimetric assay as the reference method, the sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 83%, respectively. Conclusion The newly developed quantitative lateral flow assay, BÜHLMANN Quantum Blue® fPELA, is an accurate, non-invasive and rapid test to determine fPELA levels in fecal extracts. The lateral flow assay is an attractive alternative to ELISA with a turn-around time of only 15 minutes enabling patients’ management in a more patient near clinical environment.

Association of preoperative hypoprotein malnutrition with spinal postoperative complications and other conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Postoperative complications of spinal surgery are a common clinical problem, which impose significant economic and clinical burdens on patients and medical staff. Previous studies have suggested a close relationship between low-protein malnutrition and postoperative complications of surgery. However, the relationship between preoperative malnutrition and various orthopedic postoperative complications remains unclear. To investigate the association between protein malnutrition and postoperative complications and outcomes. We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for published research articles between the database inception and February 28th, 2023, that evaluated the association between malnutrition and the risk of postoperative complications and death in spinal surgery patients. Malnutrition was defined as low pre-albumin and albumin levels before surgery. Two evaluators independently extracted study data and assessed the risk of bias in each study. Fixed- or random-effect models were used to calculate the pooled effect estimates. Funnel plots and Egger's tests were used to detect publication bias, and the Trim-and -Fill method was conducted to evaluate the impact of publication bias on the results. A total of 26 studies were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 17 retrospective cohort studies and 9 case-control studies. The study included more than 86,000 participants. Analysis of postoperative complications revealed that the overall incidence of malnutrition-related complications after surgery was 3.17 times higher (OR=3.17, 95% CI 2.69-3.75, z=13.57, P<0.05). The incidence of surgical site infections was 2.08 times higher (OR=2.08, 95% CI 1.66-2.62, z=6.307, P<0.05), and the incidence of postoperative urinary tract infections was 2.55 times higher (OR=2.55, 95% CI 1.80-3.60, z=5.30, P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative sepsis was 3.31 times higher (OR=3.31, 95% CI 2.31-4.75, z=6.51, P<0.05), and the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 3.02 times higher (OR=3.02, 95% CI 1.331-6.857, z=2.64, P=0.008<0.05). The incidence of postoperative cardiac complications was 4.24 times higher (OR=4.24, 95% CI 2.45-7.35, z=5.15, P<0.05), and the incidence of postoperative renal complications was 4.04 times higher (OR=4.04, 95% CI 2.06-7.93, z=4.05, P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was 2.38 times higher (OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.46-3.87, z=6.98, P<0.05), while the incidence of postoperative thrombotic complications was 2.76 times higher (OR=2.76, 95% CI 1.756-4.345, z=4.40, P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of transfusion during and after surgery was 1.33 times higher (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.13-1.56, z=3.40, P=0.001<0.05), the incidence of postoperative readmission was 1.67 times higher (OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.24-2.27, z=3.33, P=0.001<0.05), and the risk of postoperative death was 6.01 times higher (OR=6.01, 95% CI 4.51-8.01, z=12.27, P<0.05). After conducting a publication bias test and Trim-and -Fill method analysis, we found no evidence of publication bias, and the results remained stable. Preoperative low protein malnutrition is closely related to the incidence of postoperative complications and postoperative status. More prospective multicenter studies should be conducted to validate this conclusion. Furthermore, more effective assessment and intervention of preoperative nutritional status should be carried out to prevent the occurrence of postoperative complications and mortality risk.

Contribution of low birth weight to childhood undernutrition in India: evidence from the national family health survey 2019–2021

BackgroundInfants born with low birth weight (LBW), i.e. less than 2500g, is considered an important factor of malnutrition in Asia. In India, research related to this issue is still neglected and limited. Evidence exists that a large number of child deaths occur in India due to maternal and child malnutrition-related complications. Moreover, it has been found that the cost of malnutrition in India results in a significant reduction of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thus, in this current context, this study aims to explore the contribution of low birth weight to childhood undernutrition in India.MethodsThe study used data from the 5th round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a large-scale survey conducted in India. The survey collected information from 176,843 mothers and 232,920 children. The study used the last birth information (last children born 5 years preceding the survey) due to the detailed availability of maternal care information. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to determine the percentage distribution of outcome variables. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the association between LBW and undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight). The study also used the Fairlie decomposition analysis to estimate the contribution of LBW to undernutrition among Indian children.ResultsThe results show that childhood undernutrition was higher in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The results of the logistic regression analysis show that infants born with low birth weight were more likely to be stunted (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.41–1.50), wasted (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27–1.37), and underweight (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.70–1.82) in their childhood compared to infants born without low birth weight. The findings from the decomposition analysis explained that approximately 14.8% of the difference in stunting, 10.4% in wasting, and 9.6% in underweight among children born with low birth weight after controlling for the individuals' selected characteristics.ConclusionThe findings suggest that LBW has a significant contribution to malnutrition. The study suggests that policymakers should prioritize strengthening maternal and child healthcare schemes, particularly focusing on antenatal and postnatal care, as well as kangaroo mother care at the grassroots level to reduce the burden of LBW and undernourished children.

Clinical effect of nighttime snacking on patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Nighttime snacking is an effective intervention to avoid abnormal protein consumption caused by prolonged fasting. This article aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of nighttime snacking on patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and to provide new ideas for clinical nutritional intervention. The study participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 30) and the observation group (n = 30); the former was administered medical system treatment and routine dietary intervention, and the latter was administered the same treatment with the addition of nighttime snacking. After 3 months of intervention with different dietary guidance, the dry body weight body mass index (BMI), upper arm muscle circumference (AMC), grip strength, triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), third lumbar skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (T-BIL), cholinesterase (CHE), Fried's frailty phenotype score, Child-Pugh score and various cirrhosis complication rates were compared between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups before the dietary intervention. After 3 months of regular dietary guidance in the control group, the grip strength increased compared with the baseline data (p < 0.05), while the dry body weight BMI, AMC, TSF, L3-SMI, ALB, T-BIL, CHE, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, prothrombin activity, and Child-Pugh scores were not significantly different (p > 0.05). After 3 months of dietary guidance with nighttime snacking in the observation group, the dry body weight BMI, grip strength, TSF, L3-SMI, and CHE scores all increased, compared with the baseline data, while the Child-Pugh score decreased compared with the baseline level (all p < 0.05). After 3 months of intervention, the Child-Pugh score of the observation group showed a more significant decrease than the control group, while the dry body weight BMI, grip strength, ALB and CHE scores were all significantly higher than those in the control group (all p < 0.05). Overall, the improvement rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Nighttime snacking for hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with nutritional risk is beneficial in terms of the recovery of liver synthesis functions, improvements in clinical indicators, sarcopenia corrections and improvements in malnutrition-related complications.

Assessment of the nutritional status of patients before, one, and three months after liver transplantation: A multi-center longitudinal study

Nutrition management is an important pre-operative and post-operative challenge in liver transplantation. Preoperative malnutrition is associated with increased length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, mortality, and length of hospital stay in liver transplant patients. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of patients before and after liver transplantation and post-transplant complications. This longitudinal study was conducted on liver transplant patients in Montaserieh Hospital, Mashhad and Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran from May 2021 to January 2022. Demographic characteristics, Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) standard questionnaire, anthropometric indices, laboratory analyses, and 3-day food records were collected before, one, and three months after transplantation. Thirty-nine patients with a mean age of 48.4±14.2 were evaluated. Prevalence of severe malnutrition was 43.6% (56.3% women and 34.8% men) before transplantation. Body mass index (BMI), body weight, lean mass, total body water, and total serum protein significantly decreased after transplantation compared to before transplantation (P<0.001). One month after transplantation, 54% of the patients lost more than 10% of their weight. Energy intake increased significantly after transplantation (P<0.001). A significant relationship was observed between BMI (P=0.005) and metabolic complications and between Arm Muscle Circumference and renal complications (P=0.003) after transplantation. A cut-off point of 4.6 was determined for the phase angle in terms of SGA three months after transplantation. Malnutrition, weight loss, and nutritional problems were common in liver transplantation patients. Screening for nutritional status is necessary in these patients to treat or prevent malnutrition-related complications.

Comparison of malnutrition screening tests in predicting postoperative complications in elderly patients with femur fracture

BackgroundMalnutrition is an important and widespread problem in hospitalised elderly orthopaedic patients. It is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality and has been associated with an increased risk of complications. Although it is a common problem in the elderly, there is neither a universally accepted criterion for the diagnosis of malnutrition nor a screening tool accepted as the gold standard to detect patients at risk of malnutrition. There is still no consensus on which is the most recommended for screening hospitalised patients for nutritional risk. The aim of this study was to search body mass index (BMI) and commonly used nutrition screening tools to detect malnutrition and malnutrition-related complications in elderly femur fracture patients. One hundred nineteen patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists status I–IV, aged ≥ 65 years undergoing hip surgery, were included in the study.ResultsMini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) have a moderate agreement in the diagnosis of malnutrition. There was a statistically significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of complications according to MNA-SF. But there was no statistically significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of complications according to SGA.ConclusionsAccording to MNA-SF, there was no significant relationship between malnutrition and the presence of postoperative complications. However, MNA-SF has higher sensitivity than predicting postoperative complications according to SGA. Although both tests can be used for screening malnutrition in elderly patients, complications can be more predicted with the MNA-SF test.

Narrative review of inpatient nutritional management of anorexia nervosa with management recommendations for Australian tertiary health services.

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) may experience life-threatening malnutrition-related complications requiring inpatient medical stabilisation. Several management guidelines have been developed but discrepancies exist because of limited high-level evidence. To review the evidence base for recommendations contained in Victorian health services guidelines for the nutritional management of inpatients with AN. MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for published studies on the nutritional management of inpatients with AN, combined with a manual search through citations. Studies including patients with AN aged 16 years and older were included. Case reports, small case series of <10 patients, studies of nonmedical management and studies with an exclusive paediatric population were excluded. The search results were compared with AN inpatient medical management guidelines sourced from large tertiary health services across Victoria, Australia. The search yielded 584 studies, subsequently reduced to nine studies using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results suggest that commencing refeeding at a higher caloric value allows faster weight gain and shorter hospitalisation. Enteral tube feeding is preferential to parenteral nutrition because of infrequent and milder complications. Zinc supplementation showed a doubled rate of body mass index increase compared with placebo. Comparison with Victorian health services guidelines revealed inconsistent recommendations for high-calorie refeeding and micronutrient supplementation. The evidence supports high-calorie refeeding of 2000 kcal/day in AN inpatient medical management and zinc supplementation in improving the rate of weight restoration. This is inconsistently reflected in different Victorian health services guidelines. Updated national consensus guidelines could assist in improving consistency of evidence-based health care.

Adapting the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics to the Electronic Health Record.

Nutrition screening is a crucial process for allocating nutrition care, particularly in acute care settings. Screening is meant to prioritize care for those patients at highest nutritional risk, ensuring timely assessment and intervention for improved patient outcomes. Without proper screening and intervention, patients are at risk for malnutrition-related complications and extended hospitalizations. Effective nutrition screening is concise, clear, and objective and enables the appropriate utilization of registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) resources.

Food Insecurity Is Common in the Orthopedic Trauma Population: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

ObjectivesMalnutrition increases the risk for adverse outcomes after musculoskeletal trauma. Food insecurity is an increasingly recognized risk factor for malnutrition. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for food insecurity in a diverse population treated for operative fracture fixation. MethodsA two-center study (Midwest and Pacific Northwest) enrolled participants of any age within 6 months of operative fixation of pelvis or extremity fractures. Food insecurity was assessed using the USDA Household Food Insecurity questionnaire. A score ≥3 indicated food insecurity, 1 or 2 indicated marginal food security, and 0 indicated high food security. Subgroup analysis was performed for participants with available demographic, income, and food access data. Differences between food insecure and food secure participants in continuous and categorical variables were evaluated using the Wilcoxon sum rank test and Fisher’s exact test, respectively. Spearman’s correlation was used to describe associations between food security scores and participant characteristics. Logistic regression was used to relate patient demographics and odds of food insecurity. ResultsOf the 476 participants enrolled, 53 (11%) were food insecure, 48 (10%) had marginal food security, and 375 (79%) were food secure. Those with food insecurity were more commonly female (p < 0.0001). Participants with a household income ≤$15,000 were 5.7 times more likely to be food insecure (95% CI 1.8–18.1). Widowed/single/divorced participants were 10.2 times more likely to experience food insecurity than married/partnered participants (95% CI 2.3–45.6). Median time to the nearest full-service grocery store was significantly longer for food insecure (t = 10 minutes) than for food secure participants (t = 7 minutes, p = 0.0202). Time to store demonstrated a weak correlation with food security score (r = 0.23, p = 0.0041). Age (r = –0.08, p = 0.327) and hours working (r = –0.10, p = 0.429) demonstrated no correlation with food security score. ConclusionsFood insecurity is common in the musculoskeletal trauma population. Those with lower household incomes and living alone are more likely to experience food insecurity. Food insecurity is a potentially modifiable risk factor for malnutrition-related complications after operative fracture fixation. Funding SourcesNone.

Low geriatric nutritional risk index is a risk factor for death within 1 year following hip fracture.

Hip fracture is common in older patients and is associated with high mortality and functional impairment. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) evaluates the risk of malnutrition-related complications, and the Barthel Index (BI) evaluates older patients' functional status. The study aim was to determine the risk factors for both death and decreased BI within 1year after hip fracture. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 108 patients who were treated for hip fractures in 10 public or private hospitals from February to July 2007. Participating facilities comprised eight public or private hospitals with 200-499 beds, and two private or orthopedic hospitals with 20-199 beds. We evaluated several risk factors for death and lower BI within 1year after hip fracture. The mortality rate within 1year postoperatively for patients who survived inpatient stay was 6.5% (7/108). The proportion of patients with decreased postoperative BI was 43.6% (44/101). Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that several factors, including low GNRI (odds ratio [OR]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI: 0.68-0.93]), were risk factors for death within 1year. Postoperative delirium (OR: 8.84 [1.52-51.6]), postinjury dementia (OR: 34.8 [3.01-402]), preinjury BI (OR: 1.05 [1.02-1.08]), and preinjury dementia (OR: 6.22 [1.73-22.4]) were risk factors for decreased postoperative BI. Our findings indicated that lower GNRI was a risk factor for death within 1 year of hip surgery and that delirium and dementia were among the risk factors for decreased BI 1year after hip fracture.

Nutrition in surgical patients: how soon is too soon?

Preoperative nutrition support has been extensively studied; however, data on the timing of postoperative nutrition initiation are scarce. The current review focuses on the importance of early nutritional support in surgical patients and their impact on outcomes. Early nutrition support during the postoperative course may be the most important step that can be taken toward preventing subsequent malnutrition-related complications. European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition guidelines recommends early nutrition to improve outcomes after surgery and accelerates the recovery. Moreover, nutritional support should be personalized, and disease process-based. Existing studies appear to focus mostly on abdominal and gastrointestinal surgery. Further prospective observational and randomized clinical trials across different surgical populations will aid surgeons to better understand how early feeds in either form can reduce morbidity, quality of life, and increase recovery rates.

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy following surgery for pancreatic cancer: An exploration of patient self-management

For those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, ill-addressed pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) following surgery can result in malnutrition related complications that may impact on predict mortality and morbidity. The use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is recommended and often demands a degree of patient self-management. Understanding more about how this treatment is managed is fundamental to optimising care. This study aimed to explore patient self-management of PERT following surgery for pancreatic cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants. Eligible participants included adult patients who had undergone surgery for a malignancy in the pancreatic region and were prescribed PERT post-operatively. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse our findings. Data analysis revealed three overarching themes; the role of professional support, factors influencing decisions to use PERT in symptom management and the challenges of socializing. The difficulties negotiated by participants were considerable as they struggled with the complexities of PERT. Symptom management and subsequently reported physical repercussions and undesirable social implications were problematic. Professional support was largely inconsistent and relinquished prematurely following discharge. Consequently, this impacted on how PERT was self-managed. Enabling patients to appropriately self-manage PERT may lessen the post-treatment burden. Our findings suggest that support should continue throughout the recovery phase and should address the patient's 'self-management journey'. Intervention by healthcare professionals, such as a specialist dietitian is likely to be beneficial. Furthermore there are focal issues, primarily explicit education and appropriately timed information that require consideration by those developing and delivering services.

Association between Bone Mineral Density of Femoral Neck and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Biological Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) induces rapid remission. However, osteoporosis and its management remains a problem. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) evaluates the risk of malnutrition-related complications in elderly patients and has been shown to be a significant predictor of many diseases. We evaluated the correlation between GNRI and RA activity. In addition, risk factors for femoral neck bone loss were evaluated in RA patients treated with bDMARDs. We retrospectively examined the medical records of 146 patients with RA, collecting and recording the patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Inverse correlations were observed between GNRI and disease duration, disease activity score-28 joint count serum C-reactive protein (CRP), simple disease activity index, modified health assessment questionnaire score and CRP. GNRI showed correlation with femoral neck BMD and femoral neck BMD ≤ 70% of young adult men (YAM). Multiple regression analysis showed that female sex, increased age and lower GNRI were risk factors for lower BMD of the femoral neck. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis showed that female sex (odd ratio: 3.67) and lower GNRI (odd ratio: 0.87) were risk factors for BMD ≤ 70% of YAM. Because the GNRI is a simple method, it might be a simple predictor for RA activity and BMD status in RA patients. Complementary nutritional therapies might improve RA activity and osteoporosis in RA patients who have undergone treatment with bDMARDs.

Food intake, plate waste and its association with malnutrition in hospitalized patients.

Hospital malnutrition is a worldwide dilemma and challenge. High levels of plate waste contribute to malnutrition-related complications in hospital. We investigated the association between the levels of plate waste, food intake and patient satisfaction with nutritional risk and malnutrition prevalence in three hospital settings. The sample population of 120 patients, aged 18-65 year, admitted consecutively over a 12 month period to 3 different educational university hospitals was included. For all the patients, diet history, anthropometric measurements, body mass index and patient satisfaction with the hospital food service was evaluated. Weight plate waste for all daily meals was done and actual intakes computed individually for each day. Nutrition risk screening (NRS)-2002 (≥ 3) tool was used for estimating the nutritionally at-risk population.Results: From one hundred twenty non-critically ill patients with a mean 8.9 ± 3.5 day length of hospital stay, 40.8% (49) were men and 59.2% (71) were female. Mean energy and protein requirements were 2,030.3 ± 409.03 kcal/day and 76.13 ± 15.33 g/day respectively. Mean intakes were 1,326 ± 681.44 kcal/day and 66.81 ± 31.66 g/day respectively. The mean percent of plate waste for lunch and dinner were 37.7 ± 29.88 and 30.4 ± 23.61 respectively. In the total population, 25% of patients were satisfied and 75% patients were unsatisfied with hospital foods. Based on BMI (< 20), unintentional weight loss (> 10%), malnutrition prevalence was 12.5% and 14.2% respectively during hospitalization. The prevalence of nutritionally at-risk population was 30% at admission time and reached 33.3% at discharge. Plate waste and hospital malnutrition were highly prevalent in accompanying with increasing nutritionally risk progression. So it should be addressed as an important health issue and appropriate strategies for stimulating governmental policies should be adopted.

Novel, Family-Centered Intervention to Improve Nutrition in Patients Recovering From Critical Illness: A Feasibility Study.

Critically ill patients are at increased risk of developing malnutrition-related complications because of physiological changes, suboptimal delivery, and reduced intake. Strategies to improve nutrition during critical illness recovery are required to prevent iatrogenic underfeeding and risk of malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel family-centered intervention to improve nutrition in critically ill patients. A 3-phase, prospective cohort feasibility study was conducted in 4 intensive care units (ICUs) across 2 countries. Intervention feasibility was determined by patient eligibility, recruitment, and retention rates. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed by participant perspectives collected through surveys. Participants included family members of the critically ill patients and ICU and ward healthcare professionals (HCPs). A total of 75 patients and family members, as well as 56 HCPs, were enrolled. The consent rate was 66.4%, and 63 of 75 (84%) of family participants completed the study. Most family members (53/55; 98.1%) would recommend the nutrition education program to others and reported improved ability to ask questions about nutrition (16/20; 80.0%). Family members viewed nutrition care more positively in the ICU. HCPs agreed that families should partner with HCPs to achieve optimal nutrition in the ICU and the wards. Health literacy was identified as a potential barrier to family participation. The intervention was feasible and acceptable to families of critically ill patients and HCPs. Further research to evaluate intervention impact on nutrition intake and patient-centered outcomes is required.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status in Renal Transplant Recipients in Accordance with Changes in Graft Function

Introduction and AimsRenal transplantation (RT) is the ultimate treatment modality for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Malnutrition is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease among ESRD patients. Body composition analysis using bioimpedance devices (BIA) is a useful noninvasive tool to detect malnutrition in this population. We investigated the impact of graft function on nutritional status and reliability of BIA to detect malnutrition in RT recipients. MethodsWe evaluated retrospectively 189 RT recipients including 59 females, and of overall mean age of 38.3 ± 10.6 years who had a minimum posttransplant follow-up of 12 months. Body Composition Analyzer (Tanita BC-420MA) determinations were complemented with monthly assessments of biochemical parameters. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels: normal graft function/high GFR group (group 1, normal creatinine levels, no proteinuria and GFR ≥ 90 mL/min; n = 59); low renal function/low GFR group (normal or high creatinine levels with low GFR levels; group 2; GFR 89–60 mL/min; n = 87) and group 3, (GFR < 60 mL/min; n = 43). ResultsGroup 3 patients displayed significantly lower as well as hemoglobin albumin and calcium concentrations, with higher phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels (P = .0001). They also showed significantly lower body weight (P = .0001), body mass index (P = .002), fat (P = .002) and muscle (P = .0001) contents as well as fat-free mass (P = .0001). Group 2 patients had significantly lower values compared with group 1 and higher values than group 3. GFR values positively correlated with albumin, fat, muscle, and fat-free mass (r = 0.337, 0.299, 0.281, 0.278, respectively; P = .0001). GFR values positively correlated with visceral fat ratio (r = 0.170; P = 0.02), body mass index (r = 0.253; P = .0001), and waist-hip ratio (r = 0.218; P = .006). ConclusionLoss of muscle and fat mass is an early sign of malnutrition among RT recipients. It is closely associated with loss of GFR. BIA is a noninvasive and reliable diagnostic tool that should be included in the follow-up of these patients for an early diagnosis of malnutrition-related complications.

Diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is an important cause of maldigestion and a major complication in chronic pancreatitis. Normal digestion requires adequate stimulation of pancreatic secretion, sufficient production of digestive enzymes by pancreatic acinar cells, a pancreatic duct system without significant outflow obstruction and adequate mixing of the pancreatic juice with ingested food. Failure in any of these steps may result in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, which leads to steatorrhea, weight loss and malnutrition-related complications, such as osteoporosis. Methods evaluating digestion, such as fecal fat quantification and the (13)C-mixed triglycerides test, are the most accurate tests for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, but the probability of the diagnosis can also be estimated based on symptoms, signs of malnutrition in blood tests, fecal elastase 1 levels and signs of morphologically severe chronic pancreatitis on imaging. Treatment for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency includes support to stop smoking and alcohol consumption, dietary consultation, enzyme replacement therapy and a structured follow-up of nutritional status and the effect of treatment. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is administered in the form of enteric-coated minimicrospheres during meals. The dose should be in proportion to the fat content of the meal, usually 40-50000 lipase units per main meal, and half the dose is required for a snack. In cases that do not respond to initial treatment, the doses can be doubled, and proton inhibitors can be added to the treatment. This review focuses on current concepts of the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

A New Insight into Prognostic Factors in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction -Prognostic Significance of Nutritional Assessment-

Background: Clinical significance of nutritional assessment in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) remains undefined. Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a simple nutritional assessment tool for hospitalized elderly patients. We evaluated its clinical usefulness in patients with HFPEF who were predominantly prevalent in the elderly population.Methods: The present study enrolled 135 patients who were hospitalized with HFPEF (LVEF$40%) from January 2004 to December 2010. GNRI on admission was calculated as follows; 14.893(serum albumin) (g/dl)+41.73(body mass index/22), Low GNRI (#88) was defined by cutoff value that predicts all-cause mortality in this population. Results: Mean age was 76611 years, and 52.6% was male. During mean follow-up of 2.461.3 years, 49 patients died. Low GNRI (36.3%) was associated with lower levels of hemoglobin and sodium, and higher levels of BUN, creatinine, and BNP compared to high GNRI (p!0.05, respectively). The incidence of malnutrition-related complications, including infection and reduced physical activity (Barthel index #60), was significantly higher in low GNRI group than high GNRI group (p!0.05, respectively). On stepwise cox hazard analysis, lower GNRI was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality as well as advanced age, previous histrory of HF hospitalization, and higher levels of BUN and BNP (HR:0.943 (0.914-0.974), p!0.001). Conclusions: GNRI is a simple index for predicting malnutrition-related complications and mortality in patients with HFPEF.

Prognostic Impact of Pulmonary Circulation in Patients with Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction

Background: Clinical significance of nutritional assessment in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) remains undefined. Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a simple nutritional assessment tool for hospitalized elderly patients. We evaluated its clinical usefulness in patients with HFPEF who were predominantly prevalent in the elderly population.Methods: The present study enrolled 135 patients who were hospitalized with HFPEF (LVEF$40%) from January 2004 to December 2010. GNRI on admission was calculated as follows; 14.893(serum albumin) (g/dl)+41.73(body mass index/22), Low GNRI (#88) was defined by cutoff value that predicts all-cause mortality in this population. Results: Mean age was 76611 years, and 52.6% was male. During mean follow-up of 2.461.3 years, 49 patients died. Low GNRI (36.3%) was associated with lower levels of hemoglobin and sodium, and higher levels of BUN, creatinine, and BNP compared to high GNRI (p!0.05, respectively). The incidence of malnutrition-related complications, including infection and reduced physical activity (Barthel index #60), was significantly higher in low GNRI group than high GNRI group (p!0.05, respectively). On stepwise cox hazard analysis, lower GNRI was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality as well as advanced age, previous histrory of HF hospitalization, and higher levels of BUN and BNP (HR:0.943 (0.914-0.974), p!0.001). Conclusions: GNRI is a simple index for predicting malnutrition-related complications and mortality in patients with HFPEF.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: Diagnosis and treatment

Pancreatic insufficiency is a major consequence of pancreatic diseases leading to a loss of pancreatic parenchyma, obstruction of the main pancreatic duct, decreased pancreatic stimulation, or acid-mediated inactivation of pancreatic enzymes. In addition, gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgical resections are frequent causes. Clinical manifestations include abdominal cramps, steatorrhea and malnutrition. Malnutrition, the main contributing factor of weight loss, has been related to a high morbidity and mortality secondary to an increased risk of malnutrition-related complications and cardiovascular events. Assessments of exocrine pancreatic function, such as fecal fat quantification and (13) C-triglyceride breath test, are the method of choice for diagnosis. In clinical practice, high-risk patient populations include those with severe necrotizing pancreatitis, gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgery, cancer of pancreas head, and those with pancreatic calcifications. Apart from relief of maldigestion-related symptoms, the main goal of pancreatic enzyme substitution therapy is to ensure a normal nutritional status. Therapy of pancreatic insufficiency is based on the oral administration of exogenous pancreatic enzymes. Restriction of fat intake, though traditionally important in conventional treatment, should be reconsidered. Enzyme substitution therapy should ideally mimic the physiological pattern of pancreatic exocrine secretion, and pancreatic enzymes in the form of enteric-coated minimicrospheres are considered as the most elaborated commercially available enzyme preparations. In general, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in patients after surgery may be managed similarly to patients with chronic pancreatitis. This review focuses on current perspectives in diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and practical suggestions on its clinical management.