The Impact of Enteral Nutritional Support on the Quality of Life

London Health Sciences Center, Ontario, Canada

Hypothesis:
Enteral nutrition will enhance the quality of life for people with ALS and that of their caregivers

Aims:

• Determine if the use of enteral nutritional support affects the QOL of patients
• Determine if the use of enteral nutritional support affects the QOL of caregivers

Status:
Seven centers are enrolling patients and 78 people have been entered into the study and 38 are still being followed. Thirty-seven patients have died, and 7 lost to follow up. Thirteen of the 78 patients have received a feeding tube and it is anticipated that approximately 30% of the patients will undergo feeding tube placement by the completion of this study. The study will continue until late 2003 without new enrollment, but with continuation for long-term follow. The investigators hope to present preliminary data at the ALS/MND InternationalSymposium in 2003.