Latin American Study on parenteral and enteral nutritional therapy—ELANPE Study ELANPE Group

Objective

We describe the status of medical nutrition therapy in adult patients in several hospitals in Latin America in 2023. with the aim of deepening understanding of its implementation and thus, in turn, contributing to the advancement of future guidelines.

Materials and methods

This is a descriptive, multicenter, cross-sectional study. An electronic questionnaire was applied, containing screening, nutritional therapy, multidisciplinary nutritional support, and monitoring indicators. Descriptive statistics were used in data processing.

Results

A total of 132 hospitals from 14 Latin American countries participated; 68.2% were state-owned with a median of 23,804 patients. In 66% of hospitals (n = 87) nutritional screening is systematically implemented; NRS-2002 (n = 66; 75.9%) applied mostly by dietitians. Median malnutrition at admission was 33% (IQR = 30.8). Median indication for diet therapy was 54.4% (IQR = 44.3); oral supplementation 13.6% (IQR = 18), and enteral and parenteral nutritional support 14.6% (IQR = 10.2). Indication is carried out mostly by dietitians (n = 78; 59.1%). 29.5% (n = 39) of hospitals count on multidisciplinary nutritional support. 75% (n = 99) use industrialized formulas, mostly in closed systems (n = 53; 40.2%). For parenteral nutrition, individually compounded and preprepared solutions are used (n = 71; 53.8%) generally administered by central catheters. Most frequently cited monitoring indicators were hemodynamic instability, metabolic complications, abdominal distension, and gastric residue.

Conclusion

There are still low implementation percentages of nutritional screening, formation of nutritional therapy teams, and use of oral supplements. Malnutrition upon admission is within the expected range.