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(Stroke. 2003;34:502.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Measuring Longitudinally the Metabolic Demands of Stroke Patients

Resting Energy Expenditure Is Not Elevated

From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (H.M.F.), Elizabeth Bruyère Health Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa; the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (L.S.G.-F., M.G.W.), University of Western Ontario, London; the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (N.C.F.), St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Parkwood Hospital, London; and the Program in Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care (M.G.W.), Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Canada.

Correspondence to Hillel Finestone, MD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Elizabeth Bruyère Health Centre, 43 Bruyère St, Ottawa ON K1N 5C8, Canada. E-mail hfinesto{at}scohs.on.ca

Background and Purpose— Little is known of the acute, subacute, and longer-term energy demands of stroke, information essential to appropriate clinical and nutritional management. The goals of this study were to (1) determine the resting energy expenditure (REE) of stroke patients from stroke onset to 3 months, (2) examine relations between stroke size, type, location, severity, and REE, and (3) evaluate whether estimation of REE from the Harris-Benedict equation (HB) requires the addition of a "stress factor" to capture the possible additional REE imposed by stroke.

Methods— The REE of new stroke patients was measured prospectively at hospital admission and on days 7, 11, 14, 21, and 90 by indirect calorimetry. Stroke patients’ REEs (Kcal/d) over time and REEs as a percentage of HB were compared with control subjects’ single measurements.

Results— Mean REE and %HB of stroke patients ranged from 1521±290 to 1663±268 Kcal/d and from 107±14.9 to 114±12.9 %HB, respectively. Mean measurements of control subjects were 1665±265 Kcal/d and 112.9±11.4 %HB (NS). REE was not associated with stroke characteristics (NS). Changes in REE measured longitudinally were not clinically meaningful (4 to 62 Kcal/d) though statistically significant (P=0.004).

Conclusions— The REEs of stroke patients and controls were both 10% higher than those predicted by HB. No hypermetabolic response pattern of energy expenditure was evident after stroke. REE did not vary with stroke characteristics, although confirmation with larger subgroups is required.

Key Words: cerebrovascular circulation • stroke • diet • energy metabolism • rehabilitation