Dysphagia characteristics at FEES examination in post-extubation patients with COVID-19.

Objective: The aims of this study was to analyse fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) findings in tube-fed patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Seventeen patients who had been intubated during intensive care unit (ICU) stay were enrolled. Pooling of secretions, dysphagia phenotype, penetration/aspiration and residue after swallow were assessed through FEES. The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores were also collected. Patients with significant swallowing impairment were evaluated again after 2 weeks. Results: All patients were tube-fed at enrollment. According to the FEES results, 7 started total oral feeding with at least one consistency. The more common dysphagia phenotypes were propulsive deficit and delayed pharyngeal phase. Pooling of secretions, penetration/aspiration, and residue after swallow were frequently documented. A significant improvement in FOIS scores was found during the second FEES examination. Conclusions: Swallowing impairment in patients with severe COVID-19 after discharge from the ICU is characterised by propulsive deficit and delayed pharyngeal phase. Most of these patients required feeding restrictions even if feeding abilities seem to improve over time.

A Randomized Noninferiority Trial to Compare Enteral to Parenteral Phosphate Replacement on Biochemistry, Waste, and Environmental Impact and Healthcare Cost in Critically Ill Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypophosphatemia.

OBJECTIVES: Hypophosphatemia occurs frequently. Enteral, rather than IV, phosphate replacement may reduce fluid replacement, cost, and waste. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, parallel group, noninferiority clinical trial. SETTING: Single center, 42-bed state trauma, medical and surgical ICUs, from April 20, 2022, to July 1, 2022. PATIENTS: Patients with serum phosphate concentration between 0.3 and 0.75 mmol/L. INTERVENTIONS: We randomized patients to either enteral or IV phosphate replacement using electronic medical record-embedded program. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Our primary outcome was serum phosphate at 24 hours with a noninferiority margin of 0.2 mmol/L. Secondary outcomes included cost savings and environmental waste reduction and additional IV fluid administered. The modified intention-to-treat cohort comprised 131 patients. Baseline phosphate concentrations were similar between the two groups. At 24 hours, mean ( sd ) serum phosphate concentration were enteral 0.89 mmol/L (0.24 mmol/L) and IV 0.82 mmol/L (0.28 mmol/L). This difference was noninferior at the margin of 0.2 mmol/L (difference, 0.07 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.17 mmol/L). When assigned IV replacement, patients received 408 mL (372 mL) of solvent IV fluid. Compared with IV replacement, the mean cost per patient was ten-fold less with enteral replacement ($3.7 [$4.0] vs. IV: $37.7 [$31.4]; difference = $34.0 [95% CI, $26.3-$41.7]) and weight of waste was less (7.7 g [8.3 g] vs. 217 g [169 g]; difference = 209 g [95% CI, 168-250 g]). C O2 emissions were 60-fold less for comparable phosphate replacement (enteral: 2 g producing 14.2 g and 20 mmol of potassium dihydrogen phosphate producing 843 g of C O2 equivalents). CONCLUSIONS: Enteral phosphate replacement in ICU is noninferior to IV replacement at a margin of 0.2 mmol/L but leads to a substantial reduction in cost and waste.

Systematic review of service improvements for home enteral tube feeding in adults.

BACKGROUND: Patients receiving home enteral tube feeding (HETF) have a high risk of complications and readmission to hospital. This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of staff- and/or patient-focused service-improvement strategies on clinical, patient-reported, and economic outcomes for patients receiving HETF across adult settings. METHODS: The search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases. Quality of studies were appraised using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment. RESULTS: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data found targeted HETF education with patients, carers, and staff significantly improved knowledge immediately after education and was sustained at 3-6 months. Multimodal interventions, including the formation of specialist HETF teams, significantly reduced complications such as infection, gastrostomy blockage, tube displacement, and feed intolerance but do not significantly reduce unplanned hospital encounters (outpatient clinic visits, hospitalizations, and emergency presentations). Owing to the high risk of bias in the included studies, there is low-quality evidence to support staff training, patient education, and dedicated HETF teams. CONCLUSION: This review highlights the need for further quality research to allow higher-level evidence for determining the usefulness of interventions aimed at improving outcomes for patients receiving HETF. Future research needs to include greater assessment of quality of life, quantification of the value of interventions in economic terms, and use of translational research frameworks. However, effective staff and patient education programs, along with comprehensive multidisciplinary care, should be considered standard care until a larger research base is developed.

Results from an Epidemiological Follow-Up Survey on Home Artificial Nutrition in Switzerland from 2010 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Home artificial nutrition (HAN) is an established treatment for malnourished patients. Since July 2012, the costs for oral nutrition supplements (ONS) are covered by the compulsory health insurance providers in Switzerland if the patient has a medical indication based on the Swiss Society for Clinical Nutrition guidelines. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to analyse the development of HAN, including ONS, before and after July 2012. METHODS: We obtained the retrospective and anonymized data from the Swiss association for joint tasks of health insurers (SVK), who registered patients on HAN. Since not all health insurers are working with SVK, this retrospective study recorded nearly 65% of all new patients on HAN in Switzerland from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 33,410 patients (49.1% men and 50.9% women) with a mean BMI of 21.3 ± 4.5 kg/m2 and mean age of 68.9 ± 17.8 years were recorded. The number of patient cases on ONS increased from 808 cases in 2010 to 18,538 cases in 2015, while patient cases on home enteral nutrition (HEN) and home parenteral nutrition (HPN) remained approximately the same. The relative distribution of type of HAN changed from 26.2% cases on ONS, 68.7% cases on HEN and 5.1% cases on HPN in 2010 to 86.1% cases on ONS, 12.8% cases on HEN, and 1.1% cases on HPN in 2015. Treatment duration decreased for ONS from 698 ± 637 days to 171 ± 274 days, for HEN from 416 ± 553 days to 262 ± 459 days, and for HPN from 96 ± 206 days to 72 ± 123 days. Mean costs per patient decreased for ONS from 1,330 CHF in 2010 to 606 CHF in 2015. Total costs for HAN increased from 16,895,373 CHF in 2010 to 32,868,361 CHF in 2015. CONCLUSION: Our epidemiological follow-up study showed an immense increase in number of patients on HAN in Switzerland after July 2012. Due to shorter therapy duration and reduced mean costs per patient, total costs were only doubled while the number of patients increased 7-fold.

Modern Challenges to Gastrointestinal Nutrition Physicians and the Nutrition Support Team: Cautionary Tales and Call to Action.

The current climate of healthcare economics in the United States has imposed unprecedented market stressors on health institutions traditionally providing tertiary care to those with the most challenging healthcare needs. In such a stressed financial atmosphere, administrators look to streamline costs and cut margins as tightly as possible. This often results in restructuring, consolidating, or closing service lines that are perceived as unprofitable or unsupportable. Nutrition support often falls into this category because of few sources of direct revenue-generating activities and poor reimbursement from third-party payers. This article discusses the challenges to modern nutrition support teams, particularly those with gastroenterologists as physician leaders, and delineates market forces that need shifting to continue to make this a viable part of the healthcare system.

Blenderized Tube Feeding: Health Outcomes and Review of Homemade and Commercially Prepared Products.

The popularity of homemade blenderized tube feeding (HBTF) continues to increase among enteral nutrition (EN) consumers and healthcare providers alike, citing improved feeding tolerance over standard commercial enteral formulas, among other health outcomes. Within the past 5-10 years, there has been a surge in the development of commercial blenderized tube feeding (CBTF) products. CBTF products promote similar benefits from whole foods like those used in HBTF while being a nutritionally-consistent, easy to use, and shelf-stable option for EN consumers. Research is improving but is still limited for HBTF and virtually nonexistent for CBTF products. This review aims to summarize current health outcomes of HBTF, compare HBTF with CBTF, evaluate CBTF products, and provide considerations for future research and practices.

Economic evaluation alongside the Speed of Increasing milk Feeds Trial (SIFT).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two rates of enteral feed advancement (18 vs 30 mL/kg/day) in very preterm and very low birth weight infants. DESIGN: Within-trial economic evaluation alongside a multicentre, two-arm parallel group, randomised controlled trial (Speed of Increasing milk Feeds Trial). SETTING: 55 UK neonatal units from May 2013 to June 2015. PATIENTS: Infants born <32 weeks' gestation or <1500 g, receiving less than 30 mL/kg/day of milk at trial enrolment. Infants with a known severe congenital anomaly, no realistic chance of survival, or unlikely to be traceable for follow-up, were ineligible. INTERVENTIONS: When clinicians were ready to start advancing feed volumes, infants were randomised to receive daily increments in feed volume of 30 mL/kg (intervention) or 18 mL/kg (control). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cost per additional survivor without moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disability at 24 months of age corrected for prematurity. RESULTS: Average costs per infant were slightly higher for faster feeds compared with slower feeds (mean difference £267, 95% CI -6928 to 8117). Fewer infants achieved the principal outcome of survival without moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disability at 24 months in the faster feeds arm (802/1224 vs 848/1246). The stochastic cost-effectiveness analysis showed a likelihood of worse outcomes for faster feeds compared with slower feeds. CONCLUSIONS: The stochastic cost-effectiveness analysis shows faster feeds are broadly equivalent on cost grounds. However, in terms of outcomes at 24 months age (corrected for prematurity), faster feeds are harmful. Faster feeds should not be recommended on either cost or effectiveness grounds to achieve the primary outcome.

Compliance to oral nutritional supplementation decreases the risk of hospitalisation in malnourished older adults without extra health care cost: Prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Malnutrition affects 5-10% of elderly people living in the community. A few studies suggest that nutritional intervention may reduce health care costs. The present study included malnourished elderly patients living at home. It aimed to compare health care costs between patients that were prescribed ONS by their general practitioner and those who were not, and to assess the effect of ONS prescription on the risk of hospitalisation. METHODS: This prospective multicentre observational study included malnourished patients ≥70 years old who lived at home. Patients were defined as malnourished if they presented with one or more of the following criteria: weight loss ≥5% in 1 month, weight loss ≥10% in 6 months, BMI <21 kg/m2, albuminemia <35 g/L or Short-Form MNA ≤ 7. Their general practitioners prescribed an ONS, or not, according to their usual practice. Health care costs were recorded during a 6-month period. Other collected data were diseases, disability, self-perception of current health status, quality of life (QoL), nutritional status, appetite and compliance to ONS. A propensity score method was used to compare costs and risk of hospitalisation to adjust for potential confounding factors and control for selection bias. RESULTS: We analysed 191 patients. At baseline, the 133 patients (70%) who were prescribed ONS were more disabled (p < 0.001) and had poorer perception of their health (p = 0.02), lower QoL (p = 0.04) and lower appetite (p < 0.001) than the 58 patients (30%) who were not prescribed ONS. At 6 months, appetite had improved more in the ONS prescription group (p = 0.001). Weight change was not different between groups. Patients prescribed ONS were more frequently hospitalised (OR 2.518, 95% CI: [1.088; 5.829] hosp; p = 0.03). Analyses of adjusted populations revealed no differences in health care costs between groups. In the ONS prescription group, we identified that health care costs were lower (p = 0.042) in patients with an energy intake from ONS ≥ 500 kcal/d (1389 ± 264 €) vs. < 500 kcal/d (3502 ± 839 €). The risk of hospitalisation was reduced 3 and 5 times when the intake from ONS was ≥30 g of protein/day or ≥500 kcal/d, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ONS prescription in malnourished elderly patients generated no extra heath care cost. High energy and protein intake from ONS was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalisation and health care costs.

The Benefits of Parenteral Nutrition (PN) Versus Enteral Nutrition (EN) Among Adult Critically Ill Patients: What is the Evidence? A Literature Review.

Malnutrition is frequently seen among patients in the intensive care unit. Evidence shows that optimal nutritional support can lead to better clinical outcomes. Recent clinical trials debate over the efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) over parenteral nutrition (PN). Multiple trials have studied the impact of EN versus PN in terms of health-care cost and clinical outcomes (including functional status, cost, infectious complications, mortality risk, length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, and mechanical ventilation duration). The aim of this review is to address the question: In critically ill adult patients requiring nutrition support, does EN compared to PN favorably impact clinical outcomes and health-care costs?

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Surgical Management of Infants Less than One Year of Age with Feeding Difficulties.

BACKGROUND: We compared the cost-effectiveness of the common surgical strategies for the management of infants with feeding difficulty. METHODS: Infants with feeding difficulty undergoing gastrostomy alone (GT), GT and fundoplication, or gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube were enrolled between 2/2017 and 2/2018. A validated GERD symptom severity questionnaire (GSQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) to assess quality of life (QOL) were administered at baseline, 1 month, and every 6 months. Data collected included demographics, resource utilization, diagnostic studies, and costs. VAS scores were converted to quality adjusted life months (QALMs), and costs per QALM were compared using a decision tree model. RESULTS: Fifty patients initially had a GT alone (71% laparoscopically), and one had a primary GJ. Median age was 4 months (IQR 3-8 months). Median follow-up was 11 months (IQR 5-13 months). Forty-three did well with GT alone. Six (12%) required conversion from GT to GJ tube, and one required a fundoplication. Of those with GT alone, six (14%) improved significantly so that their GT was removed after a mean of 7 ±â€¯3 months. Overall, the median GSQ score improved from 173 at baseline to 18 after 1 year (p < 0.001). VAS scores also improved from 70/100 at baseline to 85/100 at 1 year (p < 0.001). ED visits (59%), readmissions (47%), and clinic visits (88%) cost $58,091, $1,442,139, and $216,739, respectively. GJ tube had significantly higher costs for diagnostic testing compared to GT (median $8768 vs. $1007, p < 0.001). Conversion to GJ tube resulted in costs of $68,241 per QALM gained compared to GT only. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients improved with GT alone without needing GJ tube or fundoplication. GT and GJ tube were associated with improvement in symptoms and QOL. GJ tube patients reported greater gains in QALMS but incurred higher costs. Further analysis of willingness to pay for each additional QALM will help determine the value of care. STUDY AND LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Cost-effectiveness study, Level II.

Early oral vs parenteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes and hospital costs from a tertiary care referral center.

Nutritional support is a crucial issue in Acute Pancreatitis (AP) management. Recommendations on nutrition in AP are still not completely translated in the clinical practice. We aimed to compare and evaluate the effects of parenteral nutrition (PN) vs oral/enteral nutrition (EN) on several clinical and economic outcomes in AP. This is a retrospective monocentric study conducted in a tertiary care center for pancreatic diseases. The primary outcomes were length of hospital stay (LOS) and associated costs. The secondary outcomes were the use and cost of antibiotics and fluid therapy, and the complication's rates. One hundred seventy-one patients were included from January 2015 to January 2018. Patients were 69 (40.4%) in PN group and 102 (59.6%) in EN group. There was a significant reduction in LOS in EN vs PN group in both mild AP (p < 0.0001), and moderate-severe AP (p < 0.005). There was a significant reduction in the total hospitalization costs in EN group vs PN group in both mild AP (p < 0.0001), and moderate-severe AP (p < 0.005). There was a significant reduction in the total costs of antibiotics and pain therapy in EN vs PN group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.05, respectively). Finally, a significant reduction in the infected peri-pancreatic fluid collections rate (p = 0.04) was observed in EN vs PN group. The use of EN in AP is associated with substantial clinical and economic benefits. Thus, the application of the standard of care in nutrition and following AP guidelines is the best way to cure patients and improve healthcare system costs.

The association between palliative care team consultation and hospital costs for patients with advanced cancer: An observational study in 12 Dutch hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Early palliative care team consultation has been shown to reduce costs of hospital care. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between palliative care team (PCT) consultation and the content and costs of hospital care in patients with advanced cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study was conducted in 12 Dutch hospitals. Patients with advanced cancer and an estimated life expectancy of less than 1 year were included. We compared hospital care during 3 months of follow-up for patients with and without PCT involvement. Propensity score matching was used to estimate the effect of PCTs on costs of hospital care. Additionally, gamma regression models were estimated to assess predictors of hospital costs. RESULTS: We included 535 patients of whom 126 received PCT consultation. Patients with PCT had a worse life expectancy (life expectancy <3 months: 62% vs. 31%, p < .01) and performance status (p < .01, e.g., WHO status higher than 2:54% vs. 28%) and more often had no more options for anti-tumour therapy (57% vs. 30%, p < .01). Hospital length of stay, use of most diagnostic procedures, medication and other therapeutic interventions were similar. The total mean hospital costs were €8,393 for patients with and €8,631 for patients without PCT consultation. Analyses using propensity scores to control for observed confounding showed no significant difference in hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS: PCT consultation for patients with cancer in Dutch hospitals often occurs late in the patients' disease trajectories, which might explain why we found no effect of PCT consultation on costs of hospital care. Earlier consultation could be beneficial to patients and reduce costs of care.

Home Enteral Nutrition in Singapore's Long-Term Care Homes-Incidence, Prevalence, Cost, and Staffing.

Introduction: Data on home enteral nutrition (HEN) in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Singapore is scarce. This study aims to determine the prevalence and incidence of chewing/swallowing impairment and HEN, and the manpower and costs related. Methods: A validated cross-sectional survey was sent to all 69 LTCFs in Singapore in May 2019. Local costs (S$) for manpower and feeds were used to tabulate the cost of HEN. Results: Nine LTCFs (13.0%) responded, with a combined 1879 beds and 240 residents on HEN. An incidence rate (IR) of 15.7 per 1000 people-years (PY) and a point prevalence (PP) of 136.6 per 1000 residents were determined for HEN, and an IR of 433.0 per 1000 PY, with PP of 385.6 per 1000 residents for chewing/swallowing impairment. Only 2.5% of residents had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The mean length of residence in LTCF was 45.9 ± 12.3 months. More than half of the residents received nasogastric tube feeding (NGT) for ≥36 months. Median monthly HEN cost per resident was S$799.47 (interquartile range (IQR): 692.11, 940.30). Nursing costs for feeding contributed to 63% of total HEN costs. Conclusions: The high usage and length of time on NGT feeding warrants exploration and education of PEG usage. A national HEN database may improve the care of LTCF residents.

Developing and Maintaining an RDN-Led Bedside Feeding Tube Placement Program.

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), like other healthcare professionals, are often searching for ways to improve their skills and advance their practice. One way RDNs have expanded their skills is by learning to place small bowel feeding tubes (SBFTs). However, it is also important that staffing RDNs to place SBFTs makes sense for their institution and their patient population. Although it is unknown how many RDNs place SBFTs, feeding tube placements by RDNs have been in practice for almost 2 decades, and it is within the RDN scope of practice. This article is a review of the literature, including indications for SBFT, possible benefits of RDNs placing SBFTs, development and maintenance of an RDN-led SBFT program, and assessment of clinical and institutional outcomes for this procedure.

A comparative analysis of treatment costs for home-based care and hospital-based care in enteral nutrition patients: A retrospective analysis of claims data.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in mean treatment costs between home-based care and hospital-based care in enteral nutrition patients in Japan. METHODS: Using claims data from September 2013 to August 2014, we analyzed patients with recorded reimbursements for enteral nutrition at home or in a hospital. Treatment costs were compared using a panel data analysis with an individual fixed effects model that adjusted for the number of comorbidities and fiscal year. Costs were compared for all patients, as well as for specific diseases (pneumonia, sequelae of cerebrovascular disease, and dementia). RESULTS: The study sample comprised 7,783 patients with a cumulative total of 33,751 person-months of data. The mean patient age was 84.4 years for home-based care, 83.7 years for hospital-based care. The panel data analysis found that the cost estimates for hospital-based care were consistently higher than those for home-based care; the difference in adjusted treatment costs were $4,894 for all patients, $5,315 for pneumonia patients, $4,481 for sequelae of cerebrovascular disease patients, and $4,519 for dementia patients (all P < 0.001). Hospital-based care was still more expensive even when long-term care services were included in home-based care treatment cost estimates. CONCLUSION: Home-based care was consistently and substantially cheaper than hospital-based care in enteral nutrition patients in Japan.

Enteral nutrition improves clinical outcome and reduces costs of acute mesenteric ischaemia after recanalisation in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Little data evaluate the enteral nutrition (EN) for patients with acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study assessed the outcomes of EN for recanalised AMI patients in the ICU. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 183 AMI patients with mesenteric recanalisation admitted to two surgical ICUs were included. Patients were divided into EN (EN within first week, n = 95) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) group (TPN in 1st week, n = 88). The etiology, outcomes and complications were compared. Nutritional, immunologic, inflammatory response and mesenteric reperfusion were evaluated. Subgroup analysis and cost-assessment were performed. RESULTS: No significant difference of demographics and illness severity at baseline were found. The rates of TPN for ≥6 months (7.4% vs. 18.2%, P < 0.01), infectious complications (7.4% vs. 20.5%, P = 0.01) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (4.2% vs. 13.6%, P < 0.01) were lower in EN group. For patients with mesenteric infarction (n = 101), EN was associated with earlier bowel continuity restoration (P < 0.01) and lower 30-day mortality (7.3% vs. 26.1%, P = 0.01). For patients without initial bowel resection (n = 82), length of ICU and hospital stay was significantly shortened in EN group. The 1-year survival was 88.4% in EN group and 78.4% in TPN group (P = 0.031). EN was cost-effective, with improved inflammatory response and elevated peak velocity of mesenteric flow. CONCLUSIONS: For recanalised AMI patients, EN starting within the first week represents a favourable alternative to TPN. A multicentre randomised controlled trial with high level of evidence is warranted in the future. CLINICAL RELEVANCY STATEMENT: Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a catastrophic abdominal vascular emergency in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU), and the mortality of AMI remains unchanged despite significant progress of endovascular techniques. A multidisciplinary and multimodal management approach of AMI in the ICU has been recently proposed to improve patient's survival and prevent the intestinal failure. Post-recanalisation nutrition therapy may significantly improve the overall survival of AMI patients is quite underemphasised in the ICU. Definitive data comparing EN with TPN for this patient population are very lacking. This study provides the clinical data to suggest that early EN starting after ICU admission represents a favourable alternative to TPN for recanalised AMI patients. The nutrition therapy protocol in the ICU for this special cohort needs to be updated with more high-level evidence in the future.

Analysis of a clinical pathway for home enteral nutrition in the Region of Murcia. Consumption and associated expenses and adaptation to the National Health System Guide. / Análisis de la vía clínica de nutrición enteral domiciliaria de la Región de Murcia. Consumo y gastos asociados y adecuación a la Guía del Sistema Nacional de Salud.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the compliance with the Guide for home enteral nutrition (HEN) of the Spanish national health system of the prescriptions made in a specific area (Health Area I of the Region of Murcia) before and after implementation of a clinical pathway based on that guide, and to compare the changes in healthcare costs of diet therapy during the 2007-2014 period in the Regional and National Health system. METHOD: A descriptive study to quantify compliance with the main criteria of the HEN guide before (2010) and after (2013-2014) implementation of the clinical pathway. Changes in health expenditure and consumption during the 2007-2014 period were also analyzed. RESULTS: All markers of compliance with the national HEN guide improved after implementation of the clinical pathway. In addition, Murcia has one of the Spanish lowest expenditures per population, below the national average. CONCLUSION: The clinical pathway implemented improves compliance with the national guide of prescriptions to patients in the Region of Murcia while containing health resources expenditure and consumption, thus making diet therapy prescription more sustainable.

An economic evaluation of perioperative enteral nutrition in patients undergoing colorectal surgery (SANICS II study).

AIMS: The objective of this (trial based) economic evaluation was to assess, from a societal perspective, the cost-effectiveness of perioperative enteral nutrition compared with standard care in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alongside the SANICS II randomized controlled trial, global quality-of-life, utilities (measured by EQ-5D-5L), healthcare costs, production losses, and patient and family costs were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) (i.e. cost per increased global quality-of-life score or quality-adjusted life year [QALY] gained) and cost effectiveness acceptability curves were visualized. RESULTS: In total, 265 patients were included in the original trial (n = 132 in the perioperative enteral nutrition group and n = 133 in the standard care group). At 6 months, global quality-of-life (83 vs 83, p = .357) did not differ significantly between the groups. The mean total societal costs for the intervention and standard care groups were €14,673 and €11,974, respectively, but did not reach statistical significance (p = .109). The intervention resulted in an ICER of -€6,276 per point increase in the global quality of life score. The gain in QALY was marginal (0.003), with an additional cost of €2,941, and the ICUR (Incremental cost utility ratio) was estimated at €980,333. LIMITATIONS: The cost elements for all the participating centers reflect the reference prices from the Netherlands. Patient-reported questionnaires may have resulted in recall bias. Sample size was limited by exclusion of patients who did not complete questionnaires for at least at two time points. A power analysis based on costs and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) was not performed. The economic impact could not be analyzed at 1 month post-operatively where the effects could potentially be higher. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that perioperative nutrition is not beneficial for the patients in terms of quality-of-life and is not cost-effective.