Clinical Scorecard: Impact of Early Enteral Nutrition on Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Sepsis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• EEN associated with favorable albumin trajectories.
• Lower odds of elevated lactate and procalcitonin patterns with EEN.
• High-risk inflammatory surge pattern linked to increased 28-day mortality.
• EEN initiation linked to reduced likelihood of intermediate and high-risk trajectory classes.
• Distinct biomarker trajectory groups identified reflecting heterogeneous responses.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Utilize multiple biomarkers for sepsis detection and diagnosis.

Management

• Initiate enteral nutrition within 24–72 hours when clinically feasible.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Monitor the trajectory of biomarkers such as albumin, lactate, and procalcitonin.

Risks

• Consider potential intolerance or adverse events in patients with unstable hemodynamics.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Adult ICU patients with sepsis admitted from 2011 to 2025.

EEN may reduce short-term mortality by improving biomarker trajectories.

Clinical Best Practices

• Implement early enteral nutrition as part of sepsis management.
• Assess the dynamic nature of sepsis through longitudinal biomarker analysis.

References

• Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021
• West China Hospital Big Data Platform