Acotiamide increases food intake in hospitalized patients

Objective: Impaired food intake in hospitalized patients results in prolonged length-of-stay and increased morbidity and mortality. In 2013, acotiamide, a novel GI motility modulator, was released in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate if acotiamide improves impaired food intake caused by functional GI disorder in hospitalized patients.
Patients and Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data for nine hospitalized patients treated with acotiamide for impaired food intake after control of their underlying disease. Impaired food intake prolonged their hospital stay. Before starting acotiamide, all patients had a negative esophagogastroduodenoscopy and were taking acid suppression drugs. We evaluated daily food intake, laboratory findings and outcomes. Institutional review board approved this study.
Results: Acotiamide significantly improved daily food intake comparing before and one week after starting treatment at 223±233 kcal (mean±SD) versus 891±735, p = 0.001. At the time of discharge, further improvement was observed at 1191±735 kcal. Serum albumin level was also increased, although not significantly, comparing before and one week after at 2.48±0.44 mg/dl versus 2.78±0.45, p=0.085. Overall, acotiamide improved food intake in seven of nine patients (78%), and all seven patients were discharged home. The other two patients were transferred to other facilities.
Conclusions: Acotiamide significantly improves food intake in hospitalized patients, and may result in a decreased overall length-of-stay.