Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41901057›Full record

Observational studyNutrients2026

High Prevalence of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia with Inadequate Nutritional Support in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Prospective Observational Study of Clinical Outcomes.

Rym Ben Othman, Asma Cherni, Ismail Dergaa, Halil İbrahim Ceylan, Nagihan Burçak Ceylan, Valentina Stefanica, Ines Sedghiani, Nebiha Borsali, Henda Jamoussi

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rym Ben OthmanResearch Unit on Obesity UR18ES01, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, 15 Rue Jebel Lakhdar, Beb Saadoun, Tunis 1007, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-2453-9778
Asma CherniNational Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology of Tunis, 11 Jbal Lakhdar Street, Tunis 1007, Tunisia.
Ismail DergaaHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saïd, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0001-8091-1856
Halil İbrahim CeylanDepartment of Physical Education of Sports Teaching, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Türkiye.ORCID 0009-0005-2214-4667
Nagihan Burçak CeylanGraduate Education Institute, Bayburt University, Bayburt 69000, Türkiye.
Valentina StefanicaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sciences, Physical Education and Informatics, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Pitești, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-4031-1412
Ines SedghianiIntensive Care Unit, Hbib Thameur Hospital, Tunis 1008, Tunisia.
Nebiha BorsaliIntensive Care Unit, Hbib Thameur Hospital, Tunis 1008, Tunisia.
Henda JamoussiResearch Unit on Obesity UR18ES01, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, 15 Rue Jebel Lakhdar, Beb Saadoun, Tunis 1007, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-8215-3718

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMalnutrition and sarcopenia are highly prevalent in intensive care settings and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

aimThe study aimed to evaluate the association between nutritional care, nutritional status, and patient outcomes in intensive care units.

methodsThis prospective observational study at a Tunisian tertiary hospital investigated nutritional status and management of 100 intensive care unit patients, each of whom was followed for seven days after ICU admission. Malnutrition Risk was assessed by NUTRIC and MNA scores. The severity of disease was assessed using the APACHE II and SOFA scores. Malnutrition was diagnosed using body mass index and weight loss. Sarcopenia was assessed through grip strength, calf circumference, and psoas muscle area. Nutritional management was evaluated using calculations of caloric and protein intake. Clinical outcomes included the need for intubation, difficulty with oxygen weaning, healthcare-associated infections, and the development of pressure ulcers.

resultsThe participants had a mean age of 54.85 ± 17.25 years, with a slight male predominance (53 males, 47 females). Pre-existing metabolic conditions affected 80% of patients, including hypertension (40 patients), diabetes (36), and obesity (18). The primary reasons for admission were respiratory disorders (25%), infectious diseases (23%), and metabolic disorders (16%). The mean APACHE II score was 15.91 ± 6.84, and the mean NUTRIC score was 3 ± 1.66; 27% were classified as at high risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition reached 50% (28% moderate, 22% severe). Only 31% received adequate caloric intake, while 84% had insufficient protein intake. Malnourished patients required intubation more frequently (50% versus 22.5%;

conclusionsMalnutrition and sarcopenia are highly prevalent in intensive care patients and are associated with severe complications, including prolonged mechanical ventilation and pressure ulcer development. Inadequate nutritional support remains common despite known consequences. Early comprehensive nutritional assessment and appropriate management from admission are essential to improve outcomes in critically ill patients.

Indexed as

Intensive Care UnitsMalnutritionNutritional SupportSarcopeniaAdultAgedAPACHEBody Mass IndexFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNutritional StatusNutrition AssessmentPressure UlcerPrevalencecritical careintensive care unitmalnutritionnutritionreanimationsarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID41901057
PMCPMC13029265

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.