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Chronic Hypothermia and Energy Expenditure in a Neurodevelopmentally Disabled Patient: A Case Study
Author(s) -
Gervasio Jane M.,
Dickerson Roland N.,
Brown Rex O.,
Matthews J. Barret
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/088453369701200503
Subject(s) - medicine , resting energy expenditure , hypothermia , calorie , caloric theory , energy expenditure , caloric intake , weight loss , weight gain , basal metabolic rate , body weight , anesthesia , pediatrics , obesity
Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of <35°C and results in a decrease in measured resting energy expenditure. A 51‐year‐old mentally disabled patient experienced chronic hypothermia from neurologic sequelae. Because of her continued weight gain and increased body fat in the presence of presumed hypocaloric nutrition, indirect calorimetry measurements were performed twice in a 3‐month period. The resting energy expenditure measurements prompted a reduction of her daily caloric intake to prevent further overfeeding. Hypothermia reduces oxygen consumption and, as a consequence, decreases resting energy expenditure. In patients for whom chronic hypothermia is a problem, nutritional intake must be adjusted to prevent overfeeding, excessive weight gain, and the long‐term complications of an excess of total calories.