PD249 - NUTRITIONAL COVERAGE DECLINES AFTER INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) TRANSFER: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ENTERAL NUTRITION PRACTICES

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PD249

NUTRITIONAL COVERAGE DECLINES AFTER INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) TRANSFER: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ENTERAL NUTRITION PRACTICES

A. Erichsen1,*, I. K. Rask1, T. B. Jensen2, L. N. M. Schmidt 3, R. B. Jusjong 2, A. H. Nielsen 2,4, M. B. Kristensen 1

1Department of Nutrition, 2Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, 3Department of Medicine, Gødstrup Hospital, Herning, 4Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

 

Rationale: The transition from ICU to general wards is a vulnerable clinical and organizational phase marked by disruption of continuity of care. This study evaluates nutrition planning and adequacy during this transition in patients receiving enteral nutrition.

Methods: A retrospective quality improvement study including adults transferred from the ICU to a pulmonary ward receiving enteral nutrition (May 2023 to January 2025). Data was extracted from electronic medical records.

Outcomes included presence of a nutritional plan (documented requirements and prescription) at transfer, time to initiation of enteral feeding on the ward and energy and protein coverage (%) on the day before transfer (day-1) and day+1 and +3.

Results: Fifteen patients were included (median age 73 years, 63% male). A nutrition plan was present in 53% of patients at transfer. Median energy coverage decreased from 82% on day−1 to 46% and 51% on day+1 and+3, respectively. Protein coverage declined from 84% on day −1 to 49% and 55% on day +1 and +3.

The proportion achieving ≥75% energy coverage decreased from 57% on day -1 to 14% on day+1 (McNemar test, p=0.07). Similarly, protein coverage ≥75% declined from 64% to 29% (p=0.06) but did not reach statistical significance. Median time to first enteral feeding on the ward was 5 hours (IQR 3-20).

Conclusion: Nutritional coverage declined after ICU transfer, potentially due to incomplete nutrition planning and inconsistent timing of feeding initiation. These findings support the need for structured nutritional support during ICU-to-ward transitions.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared