Determination of energy requirements after minor burns using indirect calorimetry: A descriptive cohort study

Minor burns could be associated with moderate hypermetabolism. In this study, the primary outcome was measured energy expenditure (mEE) determined by indirect calorimetry in patients with minor burns. We also compared mEE with predictive values and actual energy intakes.

Adults with minor burns exclusively treated on an outpatient basis were included. During the week following injury, a dietitian performed indirect calorimetry (Q-NRG in canopy mode), calculated the estimated energy expenditure (eEE) based on the Harris-Benedict (HB) and Henry formulas, and evaluated daily energy intakes using a food anamnesis.

Forty-nine patients (59.2% male; median age: 35 [interquartile range: 29-46.5] years; body mass index [BMI]: 26.2 [22.3-29.6] kg/m²; burn surface area [BSA]: 1.5% [1%-2%]) were included 4 (2-6) days after injury. The mEE was 1863 (1568-2199) kcal or 25 (22.4-28.5) kcal/kg and 1838 (1686-2026) kcal or 26.1 (23.7-27.7) kcal/kg in patients who were respectively fasting for >10 h or not (P = 0.991 or P = 0.805). The total mEE was 104% (95%-116%) and 108% (99%-122%) of the total eEE using the HB and Henry formulas, respectively, with diet-induced thermogenesis and physical activity level. Hypermetabolism (ie, oxygen consumption at rest ≥3.5 ml/kg/min) was observed in 21/49 (42.9%) patients. Energy intakes corresponded to 71% (60%-86%) of the total mEE.

Performing indirect calorimetry in adults with minor burns revealed that ≥40% of the tested adults presented a hypermetabolism and that their mEE was not covered by their energy intakes.