J Clin Nutr.  2015 Aug;7(2):54-61. 10.15747/jcn.2015.7.2.54.

Clinical Application of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and its Phase Angle for Nutritional Assessment of Critically Ill Patients

• Kim HS
• Lee ES
• Lee YJ
• Lee JH
• Lee CT
• Cho YJ

• KMID: 2043394
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15747/jcn.2015.7.2.54

Abstract

PURPOSE
Phase angle (PA) is objectively determined from resistance and reactance measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-a quick, noninvasive method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of PA by BIA for nutritional assessment of critically ill patients.
METHODS
Eighty nine adult patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary academic hospital from August 2012 to September 2013 were analyzed. PA values were measured by direct segmental multi-frequency BIA. As traditional nutrition assessment tools, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin levels, total lymphocyte counts, and our hospital's nutrition screening index (NSI) were also recorded. Correlations between the results of BIA and other traditional parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS
PA showed correlation with traditional nutritional parameters, including BMI (r=0.479), serum albumin (r=0.347), and NSI score (r=0.483). Patients with PA lower than the median value (3.5degrees) had significantly lower nutritional status, increased duration of mechanical ventilation (P=0.039), and increased length of ICU stay (P=0.041).
CONCLUSION
PA, as a reflection of body cell mass, measured by BIA could be a potentially useful parameter for nutritional assessment in critically ill patients.

Keyword

Electric impedance; Phase angle; Critical illness; Nutrition assessment

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Mass Index
Critical Illness*
Electric Impedance*
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Lymphocyte Count
Mass Screening
Nutrition Assessment*
Nutritional Status
Respiration, Artificial
Serum Albumin
Serum Albumin