Effect of the modified NUTRIC score in predicting the prognosis of patients admitted to intensive care units

Background: Nutritional deficiency is common in critically ill hospitalized patients. This condition may be aggravated by increased dietary requirements and deficiencies in nutrient absorption. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the modified Nutritional Risk in Critically ill (mNUTRIC) score and mortality and morbidity in patients with sepsis.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 78 patients with sepsis were enrolled in the general intensive care unit over a 3-month period. Demographic and clinical data and laboratory results were recorded and followed up. The nutrition of each patient was started by the nutrition team, and a modified score (mNUTRIC) was calculated. This score was used to assess the patients' nutritional status and mortality risk.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 77.2 ± 9.9 years, and the majority were men. The median mNUTRIC score was 6. The cohort was divided into two groups: 31 patients (39.7%) with low scores and 47 patients (60.3%) with high mNUTRIC scores. A high mNUTRIC score was associated with an increased need for vasoactive drugs (p < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), as well as increased acute kidney injury (p = 0.014) and prolonged hospital stay (p < 0.001) during ICU follow-up. The mNUTRIC score showed high accuracy in predicting mortality (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In this study, to predict the prognosis of patients with sepsis in the ICU, the mNUTRIC score was associated with mortality. The inclusion of nutritional assessment scoring tools in the routine clinical evaluation of ICU patients is important.