Resting energy expenditure during spinal cord injury rehabilitation and utility of fat-free mass-based energy prediction equations: a pilot study.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. Measurements were undertaken between weeks 4-6 post-spinal cord injury (SCI), repeated at week 8 and every 4 weeks thereafter until week 20 or rehabilitation discharge, whichever occurred first. OBJECTIVES: Observe variation in measured resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition in males undergoing SCI rehabilitation, compare REE with SCI-specific prediction equations incorporating fat-free mass (FFM), and explore the prevalence of clinical factors that may influence individual REE. SETTING: Spinal Injuries Unit, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Indirect calorimetry was used to measure REE and bioimpedance spectroscopy to assess body composition. Four SCI-specific FFM-based REE and basal metabolic rate (BMR) prediction equations were compared to measured REE. A clinically significant change in REE was defined as +/- 10% difference from the week 4-6 measurement. Clinical factors that may affect REE variations were collected including infection, pressure injuries, autonomic dysreflexia, spasticity, and medications. RESULTS: Fifteen people participated (mean age 35 ± 13 years, 67% paraplegic). There was no statistically significant change in mean REE, weight, or body composition, and the Chun and Nightingale BMR prediction equations performed best (rc > 0.8 at all time points). One-third of participants had >10% change in REE on 11 occasions, with clinical factors not consistently associated with the observed changes. CONCLUSION: During SCI rehabilitation, mean REE, weight, and body composition remain unchanged, and FFM-based BMR prediction equations may be an acceptable alternative to indirect calorimetry. Future research designs should avoid single indirect calorimetry measures as snapshot data may not represent typical REE in this population.

Effect of supplements/intensive nutrition on pressure ulcer healing: a multicentre, randomised controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of an intensive nutrition intervention or use of wound healing supplements compared with standard nutritional care in pressure ulcer (PU) healing in hospitalised patients. METHOD: Adult patients with a Stage II or greater PU and predicted length of stay (LOS) of at least seven days were eligible for inclusion in this pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT). Patients with a PU were randomised to receive either: standard nutritional care (n=46); intensive nutritional care delivered by a dietitian (n=42); or standard care plus provision of a wound healing nutritional formula (n=43). Relevant nutritional and PU parameters were collected at baseline and then weekly or until discharge. RESULTS: Of the 546 patients screened, 131 were included in the study. Participant mean age was 66.1±16.9 years, 75 (57.2%) were male and 50 (38.5%) were malnourished at recruitment. Median length of stay was 14 (IQR: 7-25) days and 62 (46.7%) had ≥2 PUs at the time of recruitment. Median change from baseline to day 14 in PU area was -0.75cm2 (IQR: -2.9_-0.03) and mean overall change in Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score was -2.9 (SD 3.2). Being in the nutrition intervention group was not a predictor of change in PUSH score, when adjusted for PU stage or location on recruitment (p=0.28); it was not a predictor of PU area at day 14, when adjusted for PU stage or area on recruitment (p=0.89) or PU stage and PUSH score on recruitment (p=0.91), nor a predictor of time to heal. CONCLUSION: This study failed to confirm a significant positive impact on PU healing of use of an intensive nutrition intervention or wound healing supplements in hospitalised patients. Further research that focuses on practical mechanisms to meet protein and energy requirements is needed to guide practice.

A longitudinal analysis of resting energy expenditure and body composition in people with spinal cord injury undergoing surgical repair of pressure injuries: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Data informing energy needs of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and pressure injuries are scarce, the impact of surgical repair unknown, and the role of body composition in healing unexplored. The study aims were to investigate resting energy expenditure (REE) over the course of pressure injury surgical repair, compare with available energy prediction equations, and explore associations between body composition and wound healing. METHODS: Indirect calorimetry measured REE pre-surgery, post-surgery, at suture removal and hospital discharge. A clinically significant change was defined as +/-10% difference from pre-surgery. Eight SCI-specific energy prediction equations were compared to pre-surgery REE. Wound breakdown (Yes/No), weight, waist circumference (WC), and body composition (fat mass [FM], fat-free mass [FFM], bioimpedance spectroscopy) were measured. RESULTS: Twenty people underwent pressure injury surgical repair (95% male, mean age 56 ± 12 years, 70% paraplegia). Between pre-surgery and discharge, mean REE increased (+118 kcal/d, p = 0.005), but with <10% change at any timepoint. An energy prediction equation incorporating FFM showed greatest agreement (rc = 0.779, 95% CI: 0.437, 0.924). Those with wound breakdown (65%) had a higher weight (12.7 kg, 95% CI: -4.0, 29.3), WC (17.8 cm, 95% CI: -5.1, 40.7), and FM % (36.0% [IQR 31.8, 40.2] vs 26.0% [IQR 15.6, 41.3]) than those without wound breakdown, although statistical significance was not reached. CONCLUSION: The presence of pressure injuries and subsequent surgical repair did not impact REE and energy prediction equations incorporating FFM performed best. While not statistically significant, clinically important differences in body composition were observed in those with wound breakdown.

Epigastric symptom response to low FODMAP dietary advice compared with standard dietetic advice in individuals with functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Certain dietary constituents may provoke symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD); however, there is an absence of dietary trials testing specific dietary interventions. Empirically derived dietary strategies and the low FODMAP diet are frequently used in practice. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of low FODMAP dietary advice with standard dietary advice for reducing epigastric and overall gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with FD. METHODS: Data were collected from 59 consecutive eligible individuals with FD attending an initial and review outpatient dietetic consultation at Princess Alexandra Hospital. Of these, 40 received low FODMAP advice and 19 received standard dietary advice. As part of usual care, the Structured Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (SAGIS) was used to assess epigastric (maximum score = 28) and overall gastrointestinal symptoms (maximum score = 88). Dietary adherence data were collected, and change in symptom score and proportion of responders (defined as a ≥30% reduction in score) for epigastric and total symptoms was calculated. KEY RESULTS: Most individuals (48/59, 81%) had FD and coexisting irritable bowel syndrome. There was a greater reduction in epigastric score in those receiving low FODMAP dietary advice compared with those receiving standard advice (est. marginal mean [95% CI]: -3.6 [-4.9, -2.2] vs. -0.9 [-2.9, 1.1], p = 0.032) and total symptom score (-9.4 [-12.4, -6.4] vs. -3.3 [-7.7, 1.1] p = 0.026). A greater proportion receiving low FODMAP dietary advice were responders versus those receiving standard advice (50% vs. 16%, p = 0.012). Dietary adherence did not differ between groups (p = 0.497). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: The low FODMAP diet appears more effective for improving epigastric symptoms in people with FD compared with standard advice. A randomized controlled trial is required to substantiate these findings.

Effective management of spasticity and impacts on weight change and resting energy expenditure in a female with spinal cord injury: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of muscle spasticity on weight change and energy expenditure after spinal cord injury (SCI) is not well understood. CASE PRESENTATION: This case study reports changes to body weight and resting energy expenditure (REE) in a 36-year-old female (T3 AIS A SCI; 80 kg; body mass index=28 kg m-2 at injury) requiring escalating therapies to manage severe spasticity. Body weight, spasticity medications and fasted REE (measured using indirect calorimetry, canopy hood) were recorded at 4, 16, 17, 20 and 44 months post injury. Spasticity was assessed at each time point using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). At 4 months post injury, REE was high (1710 kcal per day) corresponding with severe spasticity in the lower limbs (4 on the MAS). Over the following 12 months, the patient experienced an 8 kg weight loss, visible lower limb muscle wasting and a 30% reduction in REE while requiring increasing drug therapies for spasticity. With insertion of an intrathecal Baclofen pump at 17 months and cessation of other medications, spasticity improved markedly and weight increased by 6 kg in 27 months without any significant change to REE (mean=1260 kcal±2%). DISCUSSION: Effective management of spasticity with intrathecal Baclofen appears to be associated with weight gain but not REE. Without body composition and activity energy expenditure data, this observation is difficult to explain. Regardless, routine weight monitoring with appropriate dietary counselling should be considered in this patient group to help prevent unintentional weight gain.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing Indirect Calorimetry Into Routine Clinical Care of Patients With Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: In the absence of reliable predictive equations, indirect calorimetry (IC) remains the gold standard for assessing energy requirements after spinal cord injury (SCI), but it is typically confined to a research setting. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing IC into routine clinical care in an Australian SCI rehabilitation facility. Methods: Bedside IC (canopy hood) was performed, and patients completed an IC acceptability questionnaire (open-ended; yes/no; 5-point Likert scale). Fasted resting energy expenditure (REE) steady-state criteria were applied to assess data quality, and adherence to a test ≥20 minutes was recorded. Staff were surveyed to assess impact of IC on usual care. Results: Of 35 eligible patients, 9 declined (7 reported claustrophobia). One patient could not be tested before discharge and 25 underwent IC (84% male, injury level C2-L2, AIS A-D). Anxiety prevented one patient from completing IC, while another failed to fast. The remaining 23 patients achieved a steady-state REE (≥5 consecutive minutes with ≤10% coefficient of variation for VO2 and VCO2). Test-retest (n = 5) showed <10% variation in REE. Patients deemed the procedure acceptable, with 88% reporting a willingness to repeat IC. Eighty percent of patients and 90% of staff agreed it was acceptable for IC to be integrated into usual care. Conclusion: This study found that IC is a feasible and acceptable addition to the routine clinical care of patients recovering from SCI and may serve to improve accuracy of nutrition interventions for this patient population.