The relationship of nutritional parameters to mortality and septic complications

The relationship of a number of nutritional parameters to mortality and sepsis was assessed in a group of 82 patients requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Duration of TPN ranged from 9 to 105 days with a mean of 32.3 days. Parameters assessed were serum albumin, transferrin, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), delayed hypersensitivity skin test reaction, mid-arm muscle circumference, triceps skin-fold thickness and weight. Combinations of parameters were found to be more useful than single parameters. The only single parameter of significance was ALC. The best overall predictor of death and/or sepsis was a combination of reduced serum albumin, transferrin, ALC and anergy, which was found to be related to a significantly higher mortality (P = 0.002) and incidence of septic complications (P = 0.003). This combination of parameters also had the best specificity (90%), accuracy (79%) and positive predictive value (65%) for prediction of death and/or sepsis. Increasing age was also found to be associated with a higher mortality (P less than 0.001) and increased incidence of septic complications (P = 0.01).