Impact of evidence-based feeding protocols on clinical outcomes and nutritional delivery in critically ill adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clin Nutr ESPENSep 1, 2026 (epub)
Sadaharu Asami, Akira Ouchi, Naoki Higashibeppu et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of evidence-based feeding protocols on clinical outcomes and nutritional delivery in critically ill adults. Analyzing data from nine randomized controlled trials involving 5,369 patients, the study found that these protocols resulted in little to no difference in mortality (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.13) while improving nutritional delivery metrics.
Key findings
- Evidence-based feeding protocols showed little to no difference in mortality (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.13).
- Protocols reduced the time to enteral nutrition initiation.
- Daily caloric and protein intake increased with the use of feeding protocols.
- There was likely little to no difference in adverse events (RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.12 to 1.95).
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness of evidence-based feeding protocols is crucial for optimizing nutritional care in critically ill patients, as it can influence both resource allocation and patient outcomes in intensive care settings.