Comparison between Effect of Indirect Calorimetry vs Weight-based Equation (25 kcal/kg/day)-guided Nutrition on...

Sarcopenia is a substantial contributor to intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness and is associated with significant short- and long-term outcomes. It can, however, be mitigated by providing appropriate nutrition. Indirect calorimetry (IC) is believed to be the gold standard in determining caloric targets in the dynamic environment of critical illness. We conducted this study to compare the effect of IC vs weight-based (25 kcal/kg/day) feeding on quadriceps muscle thickness (QMT) by ultrasound in critically ill patients.

A prospective study was conducted on 60 mechanically ventilated patients randomized to two groups [weight-based equation (WBE) group or the IC group] in medical ICU after obtaining institutional ethics committee approval, and fed accordingly. The right QMT measurement using ultrasound and caloric targets were documented on day 1, 3 and 7 and analyzed statistically. The IC readings were obtained from the metabolic cart E-COVX Module^TM.

The baseline demographics, APACHE-II, NUTRIC score, and SOFA scores on day 1, 3, and 7 were comparable between the two groups. The resting energy expenditure (REE) obtained in the IC group was significantly less than the WBE energy targets and the former were fed with significantly less calories. A significantly less percent reduction of QMT in the IC group compared with the WBE group was observed from day 1 to day 3, day 3 to day 7, and day 1 to day 7.

From our study, we conclude that IC-REE-based nutrition is associated with lesser reduction in QMT and lesser calories fed in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients compared from WBE. CTRI registration-CTRI/2023/01/049119.

Chandrasekaran A, Pal D, Harne R, Patel SJ, Jagadeesh KN, Pachisia AV, et al. Comparison between Effect of Indirect Calorimetry vs Weight-based Equation (25 kcal/kg/day)-guided Nutrition on Quadriceps Muscle Thickness as Assessed by Bedside Ultrasonography in Medical Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(6):587-594.