Objectives Enteral nutrition (EN) constitutes a critical therapeutic intervention in the management of patients with sepsis; however, the optimal timing for its initiation remains uncertain. This study sought to evaluate the impact of early versus delayed EN on mortality rates and clinical outcomes among adult patients with sepsis in intensive care units (ICU).
Design Retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching (PSM) methodology. Setting A tertiary hospital ICU in Hebei Province, China, from 2015 to 2024.
Participants This retrospective analysis involved adult ICU patients with sepsis (meeting Sepsis 3.0 criteria) from January 2015 to December 2024 who began EN within 7 days of admission. Patients were classified into early (within 2 days) or delayed (2 - 7 days) EN groups based on when nutrition was initiated.
Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were 28-day and 60-day mortality, with secondary outcomes including hospital/ICU stay length, mechanical ventilation duration and nutrition-related complications. Results A study of 2205 patients compared early EN (EEN) in 1500 patients (68.0%) with delayed EN in 705 patients (32.0%).
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 24 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Early versus delayed enteral nutrition in patients with sepsis: a propensity score-matched cohort study at a tertiary hospital in Hebei, China.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.