OBJECTIVES: The study was to evaluate the nutritional and clinical effects of Nutritional Support team(NST). The nutritional effects included the albumin and total lymphocyte count changes; the ratio of the total caloric intake : total caloric requirements; the ratio of the total protein intake : total protein requirements. The clinical effects evaluated were length of stay in intensive care unit; length of stay in hospital; mortality and survival length during follow-up period(27 months). Analysis was also done to diabetes group and dialysis group.

METHODS: Inclusion criteria were as follows; over 65 years on baseline(NST consultant application date), hospitalized in 2018 in Veterans Health Service medical center in South Korea, stayed in ICU more than 3 days, stayed in hospital more than 3 weeks, at least 3rd monitoring consults were completed. This retrospective study was done through reviewing electronic medical records on subject’s characteristics, nutritional, and clinical outcomes. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson’s Chi-squared test, Fisher’s Exact test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Kaplan-Meier method were used for analysis. The R.4.0.1(R foundation for Statistical Computing, vienna Austria) was used.

RESULTS: The study included 83 patients, compliant group 45 and non-compliant group 38(median age 80y vs. 77y; male 93.3% vs. 84.2%). There was no statistically significant difference in height, body weight, PIBW, diabetes history, and dialysis history. Compliant group showed higher caloric intake : requirement ratio(80% vs. 59.5%, p=0.007) and protein intake : requirement ratio(79.1% vs. 55.2%, p<0.001). Dialysis group had much higher protein intake : requirement ratio(86.1% vs. 47.5%), which was higher than that of total compliant subjects(79.1%). Kaplan-Meier curves showed less mortality in compliant dialysis group(28.6% vs. 81.8%, p=0.009). The survival period was 558 vs. 189.88 days.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence on survival benefits of multidisciplinary Nutrition Support team on dialysis group. This will further encourage health care providers to follow NST consults especially in dialysis group.