Clinical Benefits of Compleat® Pediatric Organic Blends vs Standard Tube Feeding Formulas in Post-Acute Care Pediatric Patients
Significantly fewer children receiving Compleat® Pediatric Organic Blends experienced any GI intolerance symptoms at 84 days post-index than those receiving Kate Farms® Pediatric Standard 1.2.
Clinical Benefits of Real Food Tube Feeding Formulas Compared to Standard Tube Feeding Formulas in Post-Acute Pediatric Patients
Desai A, Henrikson A, Allen F, Kumar P, Veda Samhitha S, Araujo Torres K. Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 75(S1): S293, October 2022
Introduction
The prevalence of home enteral nutrition (HEN) as part of post-acute care in the US has increased in recent decades due to its clinical and economic benefits.1 Healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers are requesting tube feeding formulas including more real food and recognizable ingredients.2,3 Commercially blenderized tube feeding formulas (CBTF) containing a variety of real foods may be suitable for patients with difficulty tolerating standard tube feeding formulas (STD-TF).3
Objective
To describe patient characteristics and clinical outcomes among pediatric patients who received CBTF compared to those receiving a plant-based STD-TF formula in post-acute care.
Methods
This was a retrospective observational study, conducted using data from the Decision Resources Group Real World Evidence Data Repository, which covers 98% of US health plans and includes medical and pharmacy claims. Patients 1-14 years of age, with a prescription of either CBTF (Compleat® Pediatric Organic Blends, Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition, US) or STD-TF (Kate Farms® Pediatric Standard 1.2, Kate Farms Inc., US) between Jan 2018 and Dec 2020 were included. The index date was defined as the date of hospital discharge. GI intolerance symptoms were compared between CBTF and STD-TF group at 84 days post-index.
Patient Characteristics
*CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index
No significant difference in concomitant medication use was observed for GI drugs (anti-diarrheals, anti-emetics, laxatives and others) and anti-infective drugs.
Results
Significantly fewer patients experienced any GI intolerance symptoms at 84 days post-index while receiving the CBTF formula (25%) than STD-TF (49%) (p<0.001). This reduction in GI intolerance was maintained for specific intolerance symptoms including constipation (p<0.001), nausea and vomiting (p<0.001), abdominal pain (p<0.001), diarrhea (p<0.001), flatulence (p=0.005) and abdominal distension (p=0.007) at 84 days post-index.
CBTF | STD-TF | p-value† | |
|---|---|---|---|
Any intolerance symptoms | 118 (25%) | 292 (49%) | <0.001 |
Intolerance symptoms | |||
Constipation | 68 (14%) | 190 (32%) | <0.001 |
Nausea & vomiting | 47 (10%) | 129 (22%) | <0.001 |
Abdominal pain | 9 (2%) | 51 (9%) | <0.001 |
Diarrhea | 13 (3%) | 57 (10%) | <0.001 |
Flatulence | 9 (2%) | 31 (5%) | 0.005 |
Abdominal distention | 8 (2%) | 28 (5%) | 0.007 |
≥3 intolerance symptoms | 11 (9%) | 58 (20%) | <0.001 |
Abbreviations: CBTF, commercial blenderized tube feeding formula; STD-TF, standard tube feeding formula
†chi-square test, alpha=0.05 level of significance
The use of CBTF containing a variety of real foods was well tolerated in pediatric patients compared to STD-TF formulas. Significant reductions in GI intolerance symptoms were observed among children receiving CBTF compared to STD-TF formulas, demonstrating clinical benefits of real food tube feeding formulas in post-acute care patients.