An unexpectedly high incidence of refeeding syndrome in patients with total parenteral nutrition in a reference university hospital

Refeeding syndrome occurs with the reintroduction of food after an individual has undergone a substantial period of malnutrition. The development of this condition is not uncommon but is neglected in most cases. To identify the incidence of refeeding syndrome in hospitalized patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition and factors that may be associated with this condition. Observational retrospective and prospective cohort study. Data collection took place at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, from 2015 to 2018. Data was collected consecutively from patient electronic medical records. All hospitalized individuals aged 18 years or more and having a prescription for total parenteral nutrition were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included patients with diabetic ketoacidosis; receiving renal replacement therapy or chronic kidney disease with a glomerular filtration rate