RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of the modified NUTRIC score in screening for nutritional risk in intensive care patients and its association with death. RESEARCH METHODS & PROCEDURES: Observational, longitudinal, prospective study conducted between February 2017 and January 2018 with 83 patients of both sexes and over 20 years of age from the ICUs of a private hospital. All inpatients were eligible, except: patients with exogenous intoxication, with a length of stay of less than 24 h, and surgical patients. The mNUTRIC score was applied in the first 24 h of admission. Those with an mNUTRIC score of ≥5 were classified as being at risk. RESULTS: Of the total number of participants, 51.8% (n = 43) were male and 48.2% (n = 40) were female, with a mean age of 72.5 years (20-108). The mean ICU length of stay was five (3-8) days, mechanical ventilation was required by 19.3% of the patients, and their mean total hospitalization time was 12.56 (1-30) days. There was a significant association of a high mNUTRIC score with older patients (p = 0.002), a lower pH (p = 0.029), higher lactate concentration (p = 0.004), and higher number of comorbidities (p = 0.024). A total of 12% (n = 10) of the patients died and there was a significant association between a high mNUTRIC score and death (χ2 5.918; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Patients with a high mNUTRIC score were older, had a higher number of comorbidities and severity criteria, and had a significantly higher death rate, indicating the importance of the application of a specialized tool and consequent follow-up nutrition.
