The use of REE determination in a clinical setting applied to respiratory disease

The determination of a patient's nutritional condition is an important mome nt of clinical evaluation in every day experience. Quite often, it is impor tant to identify symptoms, signs and objective parameters that may reveal a malnourished condition. To satisfy this request, clinicians recur to clini cal examination and biochemical tests. It is also possible to use indirect calorimetry. Through the evaluation of oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2), indirect calorimetry permits the respiratory quo tient (RQ) to be calculated and the exact energy consumption during resting conditions to be determined. This technology, currently used in research d epartments and in hospital units, is more accurate for the estimation of re sting energy expenditure (REE) than the Harris-Benedict equation, especiall y in the case of patients affected by respiratory diseases or other systemi c conditions. The evaluation of REE through indirect calorimetry is a usefu l monitoring and prognostic index in acutely and chronically ill patients.