Malnutrition in survivors of critical illness and long-term survival outcomes: A cohort study

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and associated risk factors among intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and to investigate whether malnutrition after ICU admission is associated with long-term survival outcomes.

We collected data from a National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. Adults admitted to the ICU between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, who survived >1 year after the date of ICU admission were included. The statistical method used was multivariable Cox regression modeling.

Overall, 228,702 ICU survivors were included. Malnutrition before and after ICU admission was diagnosed in 12,513 (5.5 %) and 18,487 (8.1 %) ICU survivors, respectively. The multivariable Cox regression model revealed that newly developed malnutrition after ICU admission was associated with a 1.49-fold increased risk of mortality between 1 and 5 years after ICU admission among survivors (hazard ratio: 1.49, 95 % confidence interval: 1.46-1.52; P < 0.001).

Malnutrition within 1 year of ICU admission was reported in 8.1 % of survivors. Notably, malnutrition after ICU admission was associated with an increased risk of mortality between 1 and 5 years after ICU admission among ICU survivors.