Introduction:

There is disagreement over if a body mass index (BMI) above 25 kg/m(2) increases, decreases or does not alter the mortality in critically ill patients.

Objective:

To compare the mortality, morbidity and resource use among patients with normal or low body mass index (< 25 kg/m(2)) versus patients with overweight or obesity (> 25 kg/m(2)).

Design:

Study of a prolective cohort in an intensive care unit.

Patients:

One hundred fifty-nine patients were included in the study.

Methods:

Demographic and clinical data (including weight and height for the calculation of the body mass index) were collected, as well as scores of severity of illness SAPS-3, organic failure (Brussels) and therapeutic intervention NEMS (as a surrogate marker of resource use). The statistical analysis was multivariate, with a significance of p < 0.05.

Results:

When we compared patients with a BMI < 25 kg/m(2) versus those with BMI above 25 kg/m(2), we did not find statistical differences in mortality and resource use. However, when we changed the cutoff point of BMI to 30 kg/m(2), we found statistically significant differences in mortality and an important effect size in the resource use between both groups.

Conclusions:

In México we should change the cutoff point of the body mass index to 30 kg/m(2) when we compare mortality and resource use in those patients in the ICU. This study suggests the possibility of making a multicenter study to confirm these findings.

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