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Enteral glutamine supplementation for very-low-birth-weight infants decreases hospital costs
M J Dallas1, D Bowling, J C Roig
1Clinical Research Center, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Insights
Glutamine supplementation in preterm infant formula may reduce hospital costs for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. This study found lower median costs in VLBW neonates receiving glutamine, suggesting potential economic benefits.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Neonatal Medicine
- Clinical Economics
Background:
- Growing evidence suggests glutamine is conditionally essential for critically ill patients, including preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- A previous randomized study of 68 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants indicated lower morbidity with glutamine-supplemented formula.
- This study investigates the economic impact of glutamine supplementation in VLBW infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of glutamine supplementation on hospital costs in VLBW infants.
- To analyze cost differences between infants fed glutamine-supplemented formula and standard formula.
Main Methods:
- Cost analysis utilizing log-rank tests.
- Kaplan-Meier plots were employed for cost evaluation.
Main Results:
- Median hospitalization costs were reduced with glutamine supplementation.
- Costs associated with radiology, pharmacy, laboratory services, and NICU stays decreased.
- The median number of utilization units also showed a reduction.
Conclusions:
- Enteral glutamine supplementation demonstrated decreased hospital costs in VLBW neonates.
- This study provides the first evidence of economic benefits from glutamine supplementation in this vulnerable population.
Background:
There is growing evidence that glutamine may be a conditionally essential amino acid for critically ill patients, including preterm infants cared for in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In a randomized study of 68 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, we found evidence of lower morbidity in a group fed glutamine-supplemented preterm infant formula from postnatal day 3 to day 30 than in a group fed a standard formula. We report here the effects of the glutamine supplementation on hospital costs in these infants.
Methods:
The costs were analyzed by log-rank tests and Kaplan-Meier plots.
Results:
The median costs for hospitalization, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, and the NICU, and the median number of utilization units were reduced with glutamine supplementation.
Conclusions:
This study provides the first evidence for decreased hospital costs in VLBW neonates who receive enteral glutamine supplementation.
