title: Energy requirements in hospitalized elderly people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate energy intake and energy expenditure (EE) in elderly hospitalized patients recovering from an acute illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional evaluation of the disparity between energy intake and expenditure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety geriatric patients (mean age+/-standard deviation 79.7+/-7.5) admitted to acute care or rehabilitation units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' energy intake and resting EE (REE) were measured over a 3-day period. Blood samples were taken to determine C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, and albumin concentrations and to check renal function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Energy intake was higher than REE by a factor of 1.29, but it was lower than the energy requirement. Energy intake, adjusted for differences in body weight, was independent of sex, highest in those who were malnourished (defined as a body mass index (BMI) <21), and lowest in patients who scored poorly on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Energy intake and REE were independent of plasma CRP, creatinine, and albumin concentrations, as well as the initial diagnosis. REE was similar in men and women, at 18.8 kcal/kg per day. REE was 21.4 kcal/kg per day in patients with a BMI of 21 or less and 18.4 kcal/kg per day in those with a BMI greater than 21 kg/m2. The Harris-Benedict equation accurately predicted mean REE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean REE of the geriatric patients studied was 18.8 kcal/kg per day, whereas energy intake was just sufficient to cover minimal requirements. Thus, hospitalized elderly patients are likely to benefit from higher calorie intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, General Hospital, Le Mans, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alix
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berrut
authors.forename: Maryvonne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boré
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bouthier-Quintard
authors.forename: Jean Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buia
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chlala
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cledat
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Orsay
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.forename: Jean Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mouzet
authors.forename: Marie Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ombredanne
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sallé
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ritz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015995:Prevalence; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine