Comparison of Equations to Predict Energy Requirements with Indirect Calorimetry in Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND The accuracy of methods to determine resting energy expenditure (REE) contributes towards the adequate provision of nutritional support to hospitalized patients. Indirect calorimetry (IC) is considered the gold standard method to determine REE. The aim of this study is evaluated the degree of agreement between the REE measured by IC (REE-IC) and REE estimated by predictive equations in the intensive care unit patients, showing which could be used as an alternative METHODS: : The sample is made up of intensive care unit patients over the age of 18, both male and female, and undergoing nutritional therapy. The predictive equations to estimate REE was the Harris Benedict (HB), Ireton Jones (IJ) and practical method (PM). Degree of agreement between REE-predictive equations and REE-IC was analyzed by the interclass correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman test RESULTS: : Average energy obtained by IC was significantly different from HB and IJ equations (p<0.001). The HB equation significantly underestimated the REE-IC for BMI classification. Significant concordance was observed between the REE-IC and all estimate equations (p<0.05). The IJ equation showed the greatest degree of concordance for BMI classification of underweight (ICC = 0.674; p = 0.011) and presented the least difference between the averages of the energy when compared of REE-IC (107.8 kcal/d; p<0.05) CONCLUSION: : the IJ equation showed better results with IC, with the greatest degree of concordance for BMI classification of underweight. Further research should develop others equations and validate tools to measure energy expenditure for accurate dietary recommendations for patients hospitalized in nutritional therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.