How Do Specific Nutritional Interventions (e.g., Enteral Nutrition, Protein Supplementation, Micronutrient Support) Affect Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay, and Recovery in Patients with Pneumonia? : A Systematic Review

Introduction: Pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with malnutrition significantly exacerbating poor clinical outcomes. Despite growing interest in nutritional interventions, evidence regarding their specific effects on mortality, hospital stay, and recovery in pneumonia patients remains heterogeneous and inconclusive. Methods: This systematic review synthesized evidence from 57 studies evaluating nutritional interventions in pneumonia patients, including 12 randomized controlled trials, 6 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and 39 observational studies. Studies were screened based on predefined criteria including primary pneumonia diagnosis, specific nutritional interventions, relevant clinical outcomes, and adult populations. Data extraction encompassed intervention characteristics, patient demographics, comparator groups, mortality, length of stay, and recovery indicators. Results: Early enteral nutrition initiated within 24-48 hours significantly reduced mortality (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.95, p=0.038) and shortened hospital LOS by 3.54 days (p