Nutrition of ICU Patients as Affected by Staffing With a Registered Dietitian

It is unclear whether registered dietitians (RDs) who work in the intensive care unit (ICU) improve nutritional therapy in critically ill patients. This single-center, retrospective cohort study examined the initiation of enteral nutrition (EN) before and after appointment of an RD in patients who stayed in the ICU for more than 1 week and required mechanical ventilation. Of the 144 patients included in the study, 74 were in the study before and 70 were in the study after placement of an RD. Regression discontinuity analysis showed that early initiation of EN was associated with the assignment of an RD.