The Impact of High Versus Standard Enteral Protein Provision on Functional Recovery Following Intensive Care Admission: a Randomized Controlled, Multicenter, Parallel Group Trial in Mechanically Ventilated, Critically Ill Patients

ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is frequent among ICU survivors and negatively affects both short and long term outcomes. ICU-AW is the consequence of the body's reserves being depleted during critical illness and results in severe skeletal muscle wasting during the first week of ICU admission.Therefore, measures aimed at preserving muscle mass during critical illness and improving recovery after ICU discharge are urgently needed.

Retrospective observational cohort studies suggest that the administration of high protein nutrition is associated with improved survival and outcome. Current ICU guidelines recommend dietary protein delivery at 1.3 g/kg/day (ESPEN), or even up to 2.0 g/kg/day (ASPEN). However, strong prospective clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of high enteral protein delivery is lacking and urgently awaited. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of high versus standard protein provision on the functional recovery of critically ill patients.

The focus on functional, patient-centered outcomes rather than traditional clinical endpoints like mortality is an important aspect and strength of the study. Previous nutritional intervention studies focusing primarily on improving mortality have repeatedly shown no effect. Therefore, it is nowadays increasingly recognized to move primary ICU trial endpoints away from classical outcomes, such as survival or length of stay, towards more functional outcomes, in line with the underlying pathophysiology.