FAST-ICU – Feasibility And Safety of Delaying Nutrition in Intensive Care Units

Multicentre, open-label, cluster-randomised cross-over non-inferiority trial comparing two periods of 4 weeks per ICU (sequence AB or BA, with 2–4 weeks wash-out/training): one period withholding nutrition and glucose-containing maintenance solutions for 72 h, the other delivering standard early nutrition. Primary outcome: proportion of patients with ≥1 hypoglycaemic episode (BG <3.9 mmol/L) within 72 h. Key secondary outcomes: ICU/hospital and 90-day mortality, severe hypoglycaemia/hypernatraemia, refeeding syndrome, organ support. Trial registered as ISRCTN16339579.