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Comparative Study
. 2019 Aug:211:139-145.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.04.023. Epub 2019 May 23.

Health Outcomes and Quality of Life Indices of Children Receiving Blenderized Feeds via Enteral Tube

Bridget Hron  1 , Eliza Fishman  1 , Margot Lurie  1 , Tracie Clarke  1 , Zoe Chin  1 , Lisa Hester  1 , Elizabeth Burch  1 , Rachel Rosen  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Health Outcomes and Quality of Life Indices of Children Receiving Blenderized Feeds via Enteral Tube

Bridget Hron et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether clinical and patient-reported outcomes differ in children receiving blenderized diets compared with conventional formula.

Study design: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 70 children aged 1-18 years receiving blenderized diets vs conventional formula via feeding tube. We assessed rates of hospitalization and visits to the emergency department (ED) at Boston Children's Hospital in 2017 and Likert scale addressing satisfaction with feeding regimen; Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom and Quality of Life Questionnaire; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scale.

Results: Participants receiving blenderized diets (n = 42, 60%) did not differ in demographics or comorbid diagnoses from those receiving conventional formula (n = 28, 40%). Rates of total visits to the ED (0.8 ± 1.5 vs 1.4 ± 2.7, P = .05), total admissions (0.8 ± 1.2 vs 1.7 ± 2.3, P = .01), and respiratory-related admissions (0.2 ± 0.5 vs 0.6 ± 0.8, P = .04) per year were significantly lower in participants receiving blenderized diets, and respiratory-related visits to the ED trended toward significance (0.1 ± 0.4 vs 0.4 ± 0.8, P = .08). Compared with those receiving conventional formula, participants on blenderized diets reported greater satisfaction ratings (Likert scale 4.3 ± 1.0 vs 3.3 ± 1.2, P = .001), lower symptom (0.7 ± 0.8 vs 1.2 ± 1.1, P = .03), and total (0.8 ± 0.8 vs 1.2 ± 1.0, P = .02) scores on Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom and Quality of Life Questionnaire and greater scores on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scale, indicating less nausea and vomiting (64.0 ± 22.6 vs 49.0 ± 37.9, P = .02), abdominal pain (65.0 ± 26.8 vs 56.4 ± 33.9, P = .04), diarrhea (87.9 ± 15.5 vs 73.6 ± 26.3, P = .004), and fewer total symptoms (70.2 ± 16.3 vs 62.3 ± 19.6, P = .03).

Conclusions: Blenderized diets are associated with decreased healthcare use, improved symptom scores, and increased patient satisfaction compared with conventional formulas.

Keywords: blenderized diets; enteral tube feeds; healthcare use; quality of life.

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Figures

Figure:
Figure:
Health care utilization at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2017 by diet type, adjusted for age and propensity score for comorbidities. Dark gray bars = conventional formula; light gray bars = blenderized feeds
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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