Gastric versus postpyloric enteral nutrition in elderly patients (age ≥ 75 years) on mechanical ventilation: a single-center randomized trial

Table 1 Demographic data and clinical characteristics of patients at baseline

Characteristic	Postpyloric EN group (n = 70)	Gastric EN group (n = 71)	P value
Age (years), median (range)	82.0 (75.0–99.0)	82.0 (75.0–92.0)	0.99
≥ 80 years, n (%)	48/70 (68.6)	50/71 (70.4)	0.81
Male, n (%)	43 (61.4)	45 (63.4)	0.81
NRS 2002,^a median (range)	5.0 (4.0–7.0)	5.0 (4.0–7.0)	0.81
High risk of malnutrition, n/total n (%)	62/70 (88.6)	61/71 (85.9)	0.64
APACHE II score,^b mean ± SD	28.09 ± 6.75	27.80 ± 7.60	0.43
SOFA score,^c median (range)	8.0 (3.0–16.0)	8.0 (4.0–17.0)	0.28
Need for vasopressor, n (%)	35 (50.0)	31 (43.7)	0.45
Comorbidities, n/total n (%)
Pneumonia	55/70 (78.6)	52/71 (73.2)	0.46
COPD	13/70 (18.6)	10/71 (14.1)	0.47
CHD	26/70 (37.1)	36/71 (50.7)	0.11
Congestive heart failure	5/70 (7.14)	7/71 (9.86)	0.56
Diabetes	12/70 (17.1)	11/71 (15.5)	0.79
Stroke	22/70 (31.4)	19/71 (26.8)	0.54
Number of comorbidities, n/total n (%)
2	15/70 (21.4)	14/71 (19.7)	0.80
3	24/70 (34.3)	30/71 (42.3)	0.33
≥ 4	29/70 (41.4)	24/71 (33.8)	0.35

APACHE II Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, CHD coronary heart disease, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, EN enteral nutrition, NRS 2002 Nutritional Risk Score 2002, SD standard deviation, SOFA Sequential Organ Failure Assessment
^aTotal score, based on age, severity of illness, and nutrition state, ranges from 0 to 7, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of malnutrition. We defined high risk of malnutrition as NRS 2002 score ≥ 5
^bAcute Physiology Score, based on data regarding physiological function obtained during the first 24 h after admission to the ICU, ranges from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of illness. The total score, which is based on acute physiology, age, and severe coexisting illnesses, ranges from 0 to 71, with higher scores indicating greater severity of illness
^cScores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of organ failure. SOFA score calculated using data obtained within 24 h before randomization

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