Modified nutrition risk in the critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score as a prognostic marker in cancer patients

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the association of the Modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) Score with outcomes in critically ill cancer patients. Methods: It was an observational prospective cohort study in which the Brazilian Journal of Development ISSN: 2525-8761 70721 Brazilian Journal of Development, Curitiba, v.7, n.7, p. 70720-70528 jul. 2021 patients were followed up for 28 days after their admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The logistic, linear regression models with negative binomial response and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to associate the mNUTRIC score and the outcomes. Results: Sixty patients were included in the study. Cancer patients who had higher values on the mNUTRIC score were older, showed worse performance status, a high C-reactive protein level, a greater need for the use of mechanical ventilation (MV), and stayed longer at the ICU. Additionally, cancer patients with a high nutritional risk were 134.9 times more likely to use MV, with an increase of 7.4 days in their ICU stay. No significant differences were found for not active cancer patients. Twenty-five percent of the patients died during the follow-up. Conclusion: The mNUTRIC score was effective as a predictor of the MV use and ICU length of stay in critical cancer patients. This instrument was capable of identifying patients who required an early nutritional intervention.