ACUTE EFFECTS OF NEBULIZED SALBUTAMOL ON RESTING ENERGY-EXPENDITURE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE AND IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

This study investigated the contribution of a single dose of salbutamo l by nebulizer to the increased resting energy expenditure (REE) frequ ently found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CO PD) (n = 22), in comparison with a younger (n = 15) and an older healt hy (n = 10) control group. The rise in REE after nebulization of 5 mg salbutamol was significantly higher in younger (11.4%) compared to old er healthy subjects (5.7%; p < 0.05) and patients with COPD (4.2%; p < 0.001), which also accounted for the increase in heart rate and the d rop in the respiratory quotient. No differences in metabolic effects w ere found between older control subjects and patients with COPD. In co nclusion, despite significant improvements in FEV1 and airway resistan ce, a significant rise in REE was observed in patients with COPD after nebulization of salbutamol. The metabolic effects of salbutamol were however not sufficient to explain totally the elevated REE seen in the se patients.