Protein energy supplementation of usual hospital diet did not improve outcomes in inpatients with recent stroke
Q Does routine oral protein energy supplementation of a usual hospital diet improve outcomes in patients admitted with recent stroke?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial (FOOD [Feed Or Ordinary Diet] trials).
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessors).
Follow up period:
median 6.7 months.
Setting:
125 hospitals in 15 countries.
Patients:
4023 patients (mean age 71 y, 53% men, 8% undernourished) who were admitted with a recent stroke (first or recurrent stroke ⩽7 d before admission) and whose clinicians were uncertain about whether to use oral nutritional supplements after they had passed the swallow screen. Patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage were excluded. Patients could be enrolled within the first 30 days of admission or within 30 days of stroke …
