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

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.