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Energy Requirements Are Not Greater in Elderly Patients Suffering from Pressure Ulcers
Author(s) -
Dambach Bernd,
Sallé Agnès,
Marteau Cécile,
Mouzet JeanBaptiste,
Ghali Ali,
Favreau AnneMarie,
Berrut Gilles,
Ritz Patrick
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53168.x
Subject(s) - energy requirement , medicine , basal metabolic rate , malnutrition , energy expenditure , body weight , body mass index , population , zoology , gerontology , surgery , mathematics , environmental health , statistics , regression , biology
Objectives: To estimate energy requirements in diseased elderly patients with pressure ulcers (PUs). Design: Open, case‐control study. Setting: University Hospital of Angers (France). Participants: Twenty‐nine patients with PUs (Norton index risk=14.3±3.3) and 27 controls hospitalized for various diseases (Norton=13.9±3.3). Measurements: Energy requirements were estimated using measured resting metabolic rate (RMR) and multiplied by 1.26 and 1.5 to range between minimal World Health Organization (WHO) requirements and those of adults undergoing light physical activity. Energy intakes were estimated using 3‐day food weight records. Measured RMR was compared with the prediction equations of Harris‐Benedict, WHO, and Schofield. Results: Measured RMR did not differ between the two groups ( P =.48), and was not related to grade or size of the PUs. The WHO equation (82 kcal/d, P =.006) and the Schofield formula (57 kcal/d, P =.05) slightly underestimated calculated RMR, but the Harris‐Benedict equation (40 kcal/d, P =.13) accurately estimated it. Energy requirements therefore ranged between 1,536±340 kcal/d and 1,828±405 kcal/d, (25–30 kcal/kg body weight per day). Energy intake was lower than energy requirements by 176 to 479 kcal/d. Conclusion: Diseased elderly patients with PUs do not have greater energy expenditure, with their requirements suggested to range between 25 and 30 kcal/kg body weight per day. Malnutrition within this population is most likely the result of low energy intake.