Background & aims: Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is fundamental for ICU patients. This post-hoc subgroup analysis of the prospective observational EuroPN survey aimed to assess MNT in the participating Belgian ICUs.
Methods: MNT practices in 9 Belgian ICUs (148 patients) were compared to 77 ICUs (1172 patients) from 11 European countries during the first 15 days for patients staying ≥5 days in ICU - and with the 2019 ESPEN guideline on clinical nutrition in ICU (<70 % of estimated energy expenditure in week 1 and up to 1.3 g/kg/d protein). Additionally, overfeeding was evaluated in the Belgian cohort.
Results: The Belgian cohort had longer median ICU and hospital length of stay, higher emergency room admission rates and delayed MNT initiation compared to overall (EN: day 2.5 [2.0;4.0] vs 2.0 [2.0;4.0] and PN: day 5.0 [3.0,7.0] vs 2.0 [2.0,4.0]). They received more often EN than PN. In week 1 overfeeding was on average present in 30 % (energy) and 15 % (protein) of observation days.
Conclusion: Similar to overall, the Belgian subgroup received a daily average moderate caloric and low protein intake. The gradual intake increase aligned with ESPEN guidelines, though temporary overfeeding occurred in about one third of the patients.
Keywords: Critical illness; Energy; Nutrition; Protein.
Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.