[Relationship between albumin supply and prognosis in mechanically ventilated patients: a retrospective analysis]

To investigate the relationship between enteral nutrient albumin supply and prognosis in patients with mechanical ventilation.

The clinical data of 418 mechanically ventilated patients receiving enteral nutrition support treatment in intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Hospital of Jiaxing from January 2016 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether the daily albumin supply was up to standard, the patients were divided into the standard group (albumin supply was ≥ 1.2 g×kg^-1×d^-1) and the non-standard group (albumin supply was < 1.2 g×kg^-1×d^-1). Prealbumin, transferrin levels before and after treatment, 28-day mortality, mechanical ventilation time and the length of ICU stay were compared between the two groups.

A total of 418 patients were included, including 225 in the standard group and 193 in the non-standard group. There were no significant differences in gender, age and disease composition between the two groups, and the baseline data were comparable. There was no significant difference in daily calories between the standard group and the non-standard group (kJ/d: 119.73±31.55 vs. 110.05±28.98, P > 0.05), but the daily albumin supply of the standard group was significantly higher than that of the non-qualified group (g×kg^-1×d^-1: 1.38±0.83 vs. 0.95±0.75, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of prealbumin, transferrin between the two groups before treatment. The levels of prealbumin, transferrin in standard group and non-standard group were significantly higher after treatment than before [prealbumin (mg/L): 188.53±69.25 vs. 119.44±57.62, 145.18±56.92 vs. 108.81±69.50; transferrin (g/L): 2.99±0.87 vs. 1.85±0.76, 2.09±0.81 vs. 1.52±0.76, all P < 0.05]. Moreover, prealbumin and transferring in the standard group were further improved than the non-standard group [prealbumin (mg/L): 188.53±69.25 vs. 145.18±56.92, transferrin (g/L): 2.99±0.87 vs. 2.09±0.81, both P < 0.05]. In addition, mechanical ventilation time, the length of ICU stay of the standard group were significantly shorter than those of the non-standard group (hours: 147.2±7.5 vs. 216.6±8.2, 198.8±9.5 vs. 295.4±8.9, both P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in 28-day mortality [11.56% (26/225) vs. 15.03% (29/193), P > 0.05].

Under the condition of standard enteral nutritional calories, increased of the albumin supply can improve the clinical nutritional status of patients with mechanical ventilation, shorten mechanical ventilation time and hospital stay.