Prognostic Value of the SGA and NUTRIC in the ICU

What is it about?

There are two nutrition assessment tools that are commonly used in the ICU, namely the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and Modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill Score (mNUTRIC). It has been proposed that both assessments should be performed in the ICU but their combined prognostic ability has not been adequately assessed. This study aimed to: 1) determine the agreement between SGA and mNUTRIC scores, and 2) quantify their utility in discriminating and quantifying hospital mortality risk both independently and in combination.

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Why is it important?

Assessment tools such as the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically ill Score (mNUTRIC) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) are usually used individually and seldom in combination to guide nutrition interventions in the intensive care unit. The results of this study suggest combining the mNUTRIC and SGA may provide better discrimination and quantification of hospital mortality risk. It also provides a rationale for further studies to determine if combining both tools better identifies patients who would benefit from aggressive nutrition therapy.

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