Quality indicators in nutrition therapy and clinical outcomes in a neonatal intensive care unit

ABSTRACT Objective To associate quality indicators in nutritional therapy and pre-determined clinical outcomes in a neonatal unit. Methods A total of 81 premature newborns were monitored regarding the time to initiate nutrition therapy, time to meet energy needs, energy and protein adequacy, cumulative energy deficit, adequacy of the nutritional formula and fasting periods; weight gain, the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis, mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit. The data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences at 5% significance level. Results The time to start enteral nutrition and the calories infused/kg/day were predictors of length of hospital stay F(2.46)=6.148; p=0.004; R2=0.211; as well as the cumulative energy deficit+birth weight+infused calories/kg/day (F=3.52; p