Subjective Global Assessment and Nutrition Risk in Critically ill scores for assessment of nutritional status of ICU patients: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Background

Malnutrition significantly impacts outcome of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, standardized assessment tools are seldom applied in healthcare settings. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and Nutrition Risk in Critically ill (NUTRIC) scores for identifying nutritional risks and predicting clinical outcomes in a military ICU setting.

Methods

A single centre prospective observational study was conducted involving adult patients admitted to an ICU of a military tertiary care hospital. Nutritional status was assessed using the SGA and NUTRIC scores. The data was collected for their length of stay, days of mechanical ventilation and hospital acquired infections. The outcome of the patients was also analysed.

Results

On the basis of SGA score, 37% patients belong to moderate to severe malnutrition whereas, based on NUTRIC score on admission, 72% of patients had score <5. As per the mean NUTRIC score, 28% patients were found to be in the high risk category. Also, the high risk group was significantly associated with prolonged ICU stays, more days of mechanical ventilation, incidence of hospital acquired infections and mortality.

Conclusion

The SGA and NUTRIC scores are effective tools for early nutritional risk assessment in ICU. This study highlights the significant association of adverse outcomes with malnutrition in the specific patient population getting admitted in a military hospital. This underlines the need of incorporation of specific nutrition recommendations to improve ICU care as well as to conduct more such studies to confirm the findings.