The Calorie and Protein Intake of Critically Ill Patients Who Require Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT Forty-two percent of the patients with renal failure that requires continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) have been reported to have severe malnutrition, and preexisting malnutrition is a statistically sig-nificant and independent predictor of negative hospital outcomes. We performed this study to evaluate the ap-propriateness of the calorie and protein provided for the critically ill patients who require CRRT. One hun-dred forty-nine patients who received CRRT were enrolled. The demographic data, the length of the ICU stay and the mortality were recorded. The calorie/protein intake and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin and creatinine levels were used as nutritional parameters. The mean daily calorie intake during CRRT was 16.1± 7.4 kcal/kg, which was 64% of the recommended intake. Only 10% of the patients received the recommended caloric intake and the ratio of the enteral and parenteral calories was 26%/74%. The mean protein intake was 0.58±0.34 g/kg, which was 38% of the recommended intake. The calorie and protein intakes at the termi-nation of CRRT were significantly increased compared to the initial day of treatment, but they stayed under the recommended intake. The BUN, creatinine and albumin levels were significantly increased in the survival group (odds ratio for albumin: 2.73; creatinine: 2.43). A strategy to increase the nutrition provision is needed to improve the nutritional statuses and clinical outcomes of the critically ill patients who require CRRT.