Outcome of Patients Treated with Home Enteral Nutrition

Background: The aims of this study were to prospectively analyze the 1-month mortality and long-term outcome of home enteral nutrition (HEN) patients in order to determine the benefits of this treatment. Methods: Between 1990 and 1996, 417 patients, aged 64 ± 25 years, were discharged on HEN and followed up until December 31, 1998, when outcome was assessed, which allowed us to determine survival probabilities and conditions associated with survival. Results: The mean duration of HEN was 242 ± 494 days, with a 24- to 103-month follow-up. Probabilities of being alive at 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years were 80%, 41.7%, and 25%, respectively. Factors associated with death were dementia, neurologic disease, head and neck cancer, AIDS, and age over 70 years. A total of 5.5% of patients remained dependent on HEN, 32.6% resumed full oral nutrition, 20.2% of patients died during the first month on HEN, and 35% died after more than 1 month on HEN (219 ± 257 days). A total of 6.7% of patients stopped HEN for other rea...