Impact of Visual Nutritional Indicator on the Nutritional Therapy in Intensive Care Unit

We wanted to evaluate if a visual nutritional indicator (VNI), which shows the total amount of calories and protein, can improve the quality of nutritional therapy (NT) and result in better clinical outcomes prospectively.

We randomly assigned patients to VNI or non-VNI (NVNI) groups. In the VNI group, VNI was attached to the patient's bed for the attending physician. The primary goal was a higher supply of calories and proteins. The secondary goals were the shorter length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy.

The total calorie supply was 18.6 kcal/kg and 15.6 kcal/kg in the VNI and NVNI groups, respectively (p = 0.04). The total protein supply was 0.92 g/kg and 0.71 g/kg, respectively (p = 0.05). The length of ICU stay was 5.6 days and 5.3 days in the VNI and NVNI groups, respectively (p = 0.09). The length of mechanical ventilation was 3.6 days and 3.8 days, respectively (p = 0.07). The length of renal replacement therapy was 5.7 days and 6.3 days, respectively (p = 0.13). The mortality on the seventh day was 14.6% and 16.1% in the VNI and NVNI groups, respectively (p = 0.08). The mortality on the thirtieth day was 20 and 20.8%, respectively (p = 0.87).

Visual nutritional indicator, indicating the total amount of calories and protein provided, can improve the quality of NT but fail to obtain a better clinical outcome.

Mun S. Impact of Visual Nutritional Indicator on the Nutritional Therapy in Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(6):392-396.