Evaluation of clinical outcomes with modified nutritional risk score (mNUTRIC) in critical pati̇ents

Malnutrition is one of the significant factors determining the prognosis of intensive care patients. The mNUTRIC score is the first nutritional risk assessment tool specifically designed for intensive care patients. This study aims to investigate the usability of the mNUTRIC score in determining nutritional status, the need for mechanical ventilation, and 28-day mortality in patients admitted to intensive care. After obtaining ethical committee approval, 176 patients admitted to the intensive care units over a six-month period were included in the study. The demographic characteristics and intensive care admission details of the patients were recorded. During the 28-day follow-up period, the patients' vital parameters, laboratory values, prognosis indices, and nutritional support data were collected prospectively. The mNUTRIC scores of the patients were calculated on the 2nd, 7th, and 12th days for 176, 91, and 46 patients, respectively. No interventions were made to the patients' nutritional prescriptions. The adequacy of nutrition was assessed by comparing the total calories and protein intake with the prescribed amounts. In patients with a high mNUTRIC score, mortality, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, and vasopressor/inotropic support significantly increased. In our study, the mNUTRIC score calculated on the 12th day was found to have a higher sensitivity in predicting prognosis and mortality. In conclusion, the mNUTRIC score can be reliably used to predict prognosis and mortality in intensive care patients. In our study, no relationship was found between nutritional adequacy and the mNUTRIC score. Further comprehensive studies are needed on this subject.