Objectives: Most available standard enteral nutritional formulas (ENFs) are characterized by standard protein and caloric density (PD and CD) which may not conserve lean body mass (LBM) and albumin (ALB) from hypercatabolism without risks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and economic impacts of using moderate PD/high CD ENF (RenaMent®) compared with standard ENFs (Ensure® and Resource®Optimum) when used at least for 2 weeks.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis between April 2017 to Mar 2019 and patients were excluded if they discharged or died before completed 2 weeks admission.All patient’s compared variables were analyzed by using either ANOVA or χ2 test. Analysis values were compared for Group I (standard ENFs) and Group II (RenaMent®) and the Group I was further analysed after being divided into 2 subgroups (Ensure® vs Resource®Optimum).
Results: The mean overall age was 58.37±9.95 years and 224 subjects (68.7%)were male. The %∆ALB was significantly higher in Group II than on Group I (46.67%±11.19% versus 20.11%±8.56% or 20.91%±4.71%). The overall hospital LOS and overall 28-day hospital mortality were significantly lower in Group II when compared with Group I (13.26±6.53 days vs 15.08±7.02 days or 14.40±6.88 days) and (28 (25.2%) vs 43 (39.4%) or 37 (34.9%)), respectively. Economically, the cost expenditure to increase ALB by 1 g/dl was significantly lower in Group II than in Group I (13.23±14.33 USD vs 60.73±32.14 USD or 47.86±25.31 USD).
Conclusion: In summary, using moderate PD/high CD ENF may have an overall positive clinical and economic impacts compared with standard ENFs in malnourished hypoalbumenic hospitalized patients.
