Malnutrition is associated with clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients with pneumonia and other lung manifestations: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Malnutrition is a highly prevalent condition in patients who are critically ill that has been previously associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The aims of this study are to describe the prevalence of malnutrition using Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and analyze the associations with clinical outcomes using original criteria or the presence of one phenotypic criterion with inflammation measured by C‐reactive protein (CRP) in patients with pneumonia and other lung manifestations who are mechanically ventilated. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients who are critically ill. Malnutrition was classified using the original GLIM criteria (reduced muscle mass and the assumption of present inflammation because of critical illness) and one phenotypic criterion with severe inflammation (CRP >5 mg/dl). Associations between both groups with clinical outcomes (duration of invasive mechanical ventilation [IMV], length of stay [LOS] on ICU, hospital LOS, ICU mortality, and prolonged ICU LOS) were assessed. Results Two hundred and thirty‐four patients who were critically ill were included. The prevalence of malnutrition in the established methods GLIM and phenotypic criterion with severe inflammation was 38.4% and 27.7%, respectively. Patients who survived and were diagnosed with malnutrition using inflammation criterion at baseline had longer hospital LOS (31 vs 25 days, P = 0.04). After adjusting for age, clinical diagnosis at admission, and SOFA and APACHE II scores, phenotypic criterion with severe inflammation was associated with duration of IMV ( β : 5.7; 95% confidence interval: 0.7–10.7; P = 0.02) and ICU LOS ( β : 6.1; 95% CI: 0.8–11.5; P = 0.02). Conclusions Malnutrition considering a phenotypic criterion and CRP >5 mg/dl upon ICU admission was associated with duration of IMV and ICU LOS.