Association between enteral nutrition support and neurological outcome in patients with acute intracranial haemorrhage: A retrospective cohort study

Association between the amount of enteral nutrition (EN) caloric intake and Glasgow coma scale scores at discharge (GCS dis ) in intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) was retrospectively investigated in 230 patients in a single center from 2015 and 2017. GCS dis was used as a dichotomous outcome (≤8 or >8: 56/230 vs. 174/230) and its association with the amount of EN caloric intake within 48 hours was analysed in four logistic models. Model 1 used EN as a continuous variable and showed association with favourable GCS dis (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.08). Models 2 and 3 categorized EN into two (≤25 and >25 kcal/kg/48 hrs) and three caloric intake levels (≤10, 10~25, and >25 kcal/kg/48 hrs) respectively, and compared them with the lowest level; highest EN level associated with favourable GCS dis in both model 2 (OR, 2.77; 95%CI, 1.25–6.13) and 3 (OR, 4.68; 95%CI, 1.61–13.61). Model 4 transformed EN into four quartiles (Q1-Q4). Compared to Q1, OR increased stepwise from Q2 (OR 1.80, 95%CI 0.59–5.44) to Q4 (OR 4.71, 95%CI 1.49–14.80). Propensity score matching analysis of 69 matched pairs demonstrated consistent findings. In the early stage of ICH, increased EN was associated with favourable GCS dis .