A Real‐Life Study on the Prevalence and Appropriateness of Artificial Nutrition in a Southern Italy Hospital

Background/Objectives. Nutrition therapy for diseased patients should satisfy patients’ nutritional needs and address the specific disease-related requirements. This study evaluated the prevalence and appropriateness of artificial nutrition (AN) prescriptions at University Hospital. Methods. On a single day, a multidisciplinary team of physicians and dietitians with specialized training in clinical nutrition assessed patients receiving AN. Except for ICU patients, caloric requirements calculations were performed using BMI-specific predictive formulas adjusted with a metabolic stress factor ac-cording to clinical condition. Results. Among 578 hospitalized patients from 36 different wards, 9.7% (30/26 males/females; mean age 67.1 ± 11.6 years) were receiving AN (39 total parenteral nutrition [TPN], 16 enteral nutrition [EN], and 1 enteral plus supportive parenteral nutrition [SPN]). The most common primary diagnoses were cancer (21.4%) and respiratory failure (17.8%). Only four patients were hospitalized for primary malnutrition. The median time to initiate AN after the hospital admission was 3 days (IQR 0-13.5 days). Only 10 patients with a peripheral implanted central catheter (PICC) met the proper caloric intake, and only 5 of them received an adequate protein intake (≥1 g/kg body weight). Among patients receiving EN, 11 were allocated to ICU, and their caloric intake was 6-12 kcal/kg b.w., while protein intake was 0.44 ± 0.16 g/kg b.w. Conclu-sions. The findings highlight significant gaps in the clinical application of nutrition support, in-cluding delayed initiation, underdosing, and variability across patient groups. These issues demonstrate the necessity of improved nutritional screening, earlier intervention, and greater in-volvement of trained nutrition professionals in hospital care pathways.