ArticleBMJ supportive & palliative care2022
Parenteral nutrition in palliative care: single-centre observational study.
Article in BMJ supportive & palliative care, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Integrated palliative care improves the quality of life of advanced cancer patients.BMC palliative care · 2025Trial
- Intermittent vs. continuous: a comparative narrative review of enteral and parenteral nutrition support strategies in the perioperative setting.European journal of clinical nutrition · 2026Review
- A Review on the Management of Symptoms in Patients with Incurable Cancer.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveCachexia and nutritional problems play a major role in palliative care. Artificial nutrition such as parenteral nutrition is common but its role and indications in terminal patients remain controversial due to lack of data. Therefore, recommendations are vague. Benefits and risks of parenteral nutrition in palliative care as well as the clinical implementation of the guidelines have not been adequately studied yet.
methodsIn this single-centre observational study, 72 palliative care patients were followed for 1 month. Patients with and without parenteral nutrition were analysed regarding venous access complications, oedema, weight and health-related quality of life.
results93% of all patients showed reduced food intake. 34 (47%) patients received parenteral nutrition. Parenteral nutrition reduced energy deficit but was not associated with quality of life. Complications with the venous accesses for parenteral nutrition were frequent. A relevant proportion of patients with planned parenteral nutrition received no or only a few days of parenteral nutrition. Moreover, patients with parenteral nutrition showed more frequent and pronounced oedema.
conclusionThe benefit-risk balance of palliative parenteral nutrition in end-of-life treatment seems to be questionable. In view of the identified risks, parenteral nutrition in end-of-life care should be initiated with caution.
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