Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40259420›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of medical research2025

Impact of early versus delayed enteral nutrition on ICU outcomes: a comparative study on mortality, ventilator dependence, and length of stay.

Vahid Hadi, Reza Amiri Khosroshahi, Hossain Imani, Babak Jahangirfard, Katrin Majari, Fatemeh Kiany, Saeid Hadi

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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Article in European journal of medical research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vahid HadiNutrition and Food Health Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Reza Amiri KhosroshahiInfectious Diseases Research Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossain ImaniDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Babak JahangirfardDepartment of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Katrin MajariDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fatemeh KianyDepartment of Nutrition, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran.
Saeid HadiNutrition and Food Health Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. s.hadinu@yahoo.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveThe timing of enteral nutrition initiation in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) plays a crucial role in clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of early (within 48 h of ICU admission) versus delayed enteral feeding on 28-day mortality, ventilator dependency, and ICU length of stay.

methodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 295 patients across four ICUs in two Tehran hospitals, admitted between 2017 and 2018. Participants were grouped into early (n = 161) and delayed (n = 134) enteral feeding categories. Baseline characteristics were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests. Mortality was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models, while logistic and linear regression models were applied to examine associations with ventilator dependency and ICU length of stay, respectively.

resultsEarly enteral feeding (EEF) was significantly associated with reduced 28-day mortality (25.5% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.001), lower incidence of mechanical ventilation (66.5% vs. 80.6%, p = 0.007), and a shorter ICU stay (13.07 ± 16.44 days vs. 16.23 ± 13.57 days, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a higher survival probability at 28 days in the early feeding group (log-rank test, p < 0.001). However, after adjusting for potential confounders (age, gender, BMI, baseline APACHEII, baseline SOFA score, number of comorbid, primary diagnosis and admission category), the relationships between delayed feeding and mortality (HR: 1.49, 95% CI 0.98, 2.26, p = 0.062), ventilator dependency (OR: 1.28, 95% CI 0.59, 2.70, p = 0.558), and ICU length of stay (LOS) (β: 1.96, 95% CI - 1.52, 5.45, p = 0.268) were not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses revealed that delayed enteral feeding was significantly associated with higher mortality risk in surgical patients (adjusted HR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.02, 3.35, p = 0.043) and prolonged ICU stay (β: 3.75, 95% CI 0.27, 7.23, p = 0.035), whereas no significant associations were observed in medical patients.

conclusionInitiating enteral feeding within 48 h of ICU admission is associated with improved clinical outcomes, although these benefits may be influenced by individual patient factors and disease severity. Future studies should focus on tailoring enteral feeding strategies to optimize outcomes across varied ICU populations.

Indexed as

Critical IllnessEnteral NutritionIntensive Care UnitsLength of StayRespiration, ArtificialAdultAgedFemaleHospital MortalityHumansIranMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTime Factors28-day mortalityCritical careEarly enteral nutritionICU length of stayICU outcomesMechanical ventilation

Identifiers

PMID40259420
PMCPMC12013059

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.