Outcome of patients treated with home enteral nutrition

Background: The aims of this study were to prospectively analyze the 1-mont h mortality and long-term outcome of home enteral nutrition (HEN) patients in order to determine the benefits of this treatment. Methods: Between 1990 and 1996, 417 patients, aged 64 +/- 25 years, were discharged on HEN and f ollowed up until December 31, 1998, when outcome was assessed, which allowe d us to determine survival probabilities and conditions associated with sur vival. Results: The mean duration of HEN was 242 +/- 494 days, with a 24- t o 103-month follow-up. Probabilities of being alive at 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years were 80%, 41.7%, and 25%, respectively. Factors associated with de ath were dementia, neurologic disease, head and neck cancer, AIDS, and age over 70 years. A total of 5.5% of patients remained dependent on HEN, 32.6% resumed full oral nutrition, 20.2% of patients died during the first month on HEN, and 35% died after more than 1 month on HEN (219 +/- 257 days). A total of 6.7% of patients stopped HEN for other reasons. Conclusions: HEN p rovides well-tolerated long-term nutritional support in many patients. Howe ver, because of their likelihood of being old and the nature of the underly ing disease, these patients as a group tend to have a modest prognosis. Thi s calls for the determination of more accurate selection criteria, and the measurement of the impact of HEN on quality of life.