Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
A practical approach to estimate resting energy expenditure in frail elderly people
1Pôle de médecine interne et maladies métaboliques, Angers, France.
Objectives:
Some prediction equations of resting energy expenditure (REE) are available and can be used in clinical wards to determine energy requirements of patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of those equations in sick elderly patients, using the Bland and Altman methods with our database of 187 REE measurements.
Design:
The 3 equations tested were Harris and Benedict equation of 1919, WHO/FAO/UNU equation of 1985 and Fredrix et al. equation of 1990. In addition, three models developed from the present data were tested.
Results:
The present study shows that the Fredrix et al equation gave an accurate prediction of REE without significant bias along the whole range of REE. It also shows that under-weight sick elderly patients (BMI
Conclusion:
A simple formula using a factor multiplying body weight, i.e. 22 kcal/kg/d in under-weight and 19 kcal/kg/d in normal weight sick elderly was accurate to predicting REE and bias was not influenced by the level of REE. This model included half of the group in the range of +/- 10% of the difference between predicted REE and measured REE, but the confidence interval of the bias was +/- 400 kcal/d. Conversely, the Harris and Benedict and WHO formulae did accurately predict REE.