Measure or estimate energy expenditure in spinal cord injury patients? A comparison of indirect calorimetry and commonly used predictive equations

A new study published on the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society focuses on energy expenditure after spinal cord injury (SCI) and how commonly used predictive equations tend to overestimate resting metabolic rate (RMR) by 5–32 %.

The objective of this study was to measure RMR (m-RMR) with an indirect calorimeter (Quark RMR) and then compare the m-RMR with estimated RMR (e-RMR) using predictive equations (Harris-Benedicts, Mifflin-St. Jeor, Oxford-Henry and Schofield equation).

Fifty-four SCI patients were tested and the study findings state that "although predictive equations are sensitive to estimate RMR in able-bodied control, there is high variability in SCI patients, especially in tetraplegia".

The study highlights the "importance of IC to adequately estimate RMR in this vulnerable population. Given the limited resources constraint, tetraplegic patients who are at malnutrition-risk should have their RMR measured via indirect calorimeter when they admitted to SCI centre".

The study can be downloaded at the following link: click here