Changes in Anthropometric and Biochemical Parameters Following High-Protein and High-Density Enteral Nutrition in...

Background/Objectives: Nutritional support is a key component in the management of chronically ventilated patients, who are at high risk of malnutrition due to prolonged illness and metabolic stress. Enteral nutrition, particularly high-protein formulas (HPFs) and high-density formulas (HDFs), is commonly used to improve clinical outcomes; however, their effects on anthropometric and biochemical parameters remain incompletely understood. Our objective was to evaluate the association of HPFs and HDFs with changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in chronically ventilated patients receiving enteral nutrition. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated chronically ventilated patients receiving long-term enteral nutrition. Patients were categorized into four groups based on feeding strategy: continuous HPF, transition to HPF, transition from HPF and transition to HDF. Body weight, serum albumin and total protein were assessed at baseline and follow-up (up to 6 months). Within-group changes were analyzed using paired statistical tests. Results: Within-group analyses demonstrated changes in body weight, body mass index and serum albumin levels over time. Body weight increased significantly across all groups. The greatest increase was observed in patients transitioning to an HPF (70.82-75.35 kg, p = 0.00019), with a significant increase also following HDF administration (59.51-62.57 kg, p = 0.0389). Serum albumin increased significantly only in the transition-to-HPF group. HDF administration showed a non-significant increase in albumin and a near-significant rise in total protein. Conclusions: Enteral nutrition strategies were associated with changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in chronically ventilated patients. HPFs and HDFs were associated with improved body weight, with biochemical improvements most evident after HPF initiation and favorable trends observed with HDF administration. Future prospective studies with standardized protocols and objective nutritional markers are warranted.