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Resting and sleeping energy expenditure in the elderly
E W Fredrix1, P B Soeters, I M Deerenberg
1Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Accurate energy needs for elderly individuals are crucial. Resting energy expenditure (REE) measurement is recommended over prediction equations due to significant underestimations in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Estimating patient energy needs often relies on predictive equations.
- The growing elderly hospital population necessitates updated data on their energy requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accuracy of common prediction equations for resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy older adults.
- To determine reliable methods for estimating energy needs in the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Measured resting energy expenditure (REE) in 40 healthy men and women aged 51-82 years using a ventilated hood system.
- Correlated REE with fat-free mass (FFM) and body weight.
- Utilized stepwise multiple regression analysis to identify predictors of REE.
Main Results:
- Commonly used prediction equations underestimated REE by approximately 6%.
- REE strongly correlated with FFM (r=0.88) and body weight (r=0.85).
- A regression model combining weight, sex, and age predicted REE with r=0.92, but individual variations could lead to +/- 225 kcal over/underestimation.
Conclusions:
- Existing prediction equations are insufficient for accurately determining REE in elderly individuals.
- Direct measurement of REE is recommended for elderly patients due to significant between-subject variability.
- A single REE measurement is likely sufficient given small within-subject variations.