Energy expenditure, energy intake and body composition in geriatric long-stay patients.

Energy expenditure, energy intake, body composition and selected biochemical analyses were studied in 14 males and 16 females with a mean age of 83 years (range 68-92) in geriatric long-stay wards. Energy expenditure was predicted from heart rate monitoring, and energy intake was assessed with a 4-day dietary record. Lean body mass (LBM), body fat (BF), and total body water (TBW) were estimated with a bioelectrical impedance method. The mean energy expenditure and energy intake were 1845 kcal/d (7719 kJ/d) and 1746 kcal/d (7305 kJ/d) in male, and 1550 kcal/d (6485 kJ/d) and 1489 kcal/d (6230 kJ/d) in female subjects. Thirty per cent of the patients were in a negative energy balance. Mean values (+/- SD) of LBM were 50.2 +/- 7.81 kg and 39.6 +/- 6.78 kg, of BF 14.4 +/- 4.98 kg and 19.6 +/- 6.26 kg, of TBW 38.2 +/- 4.67 kg and 29.2 +/- 4.16 kg, and of basal metabolic rate expressed per unit LBM 24 +/- 2.6 kcal/kg LBM and 27 +/- 4.5 kcal/kg LBM in male and female subjects, respectively. The males had a lower per cent body fat expressed per kg body weight, also supported by low triceps skinfold values. Twenty per cent of the patients had triceps skinfold values indicating severe malnutrition according to definitions in the literature. The values of serum sodium, potassium, triiodothyronine and thyroid-stimulating hormone were within reference limits.