High correlation between increased negative calorie balance and morbidity in critically ill patients

Accurate energy balance is difficult to assess since prescribed energy intake is not always actual energy intake administered, intravenous dextrose given as part of a fluid program is not always taken into account and resting energy expenditure (REE) is not usually measured on a daily basis. We used a bedside computerized information system to measure daily and cumulative energy balance in critically ill ventilated patients to assess its impact on patient outcome.