Validity of the ActiReg system in assessing energy requirement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background Et aims: Malnutrition and weight loss are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and effective nutritional support relies on accurate assessment of energy requirement. This could only be performed by measuring energy expenditure using objective methods. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the ActiReg system in assessing energy requirement in non-hospitalized patients with severe COPD, using doubly labelled water (DW) as criterion method. Methods: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was assessed from 14 days DW analysis in 13 patients. During the first 7 days TEE was simultaneously assessed using the ActiReg system, combining measured resting energy expenditure (REE) with physical activity monitoring. Results: A difference of -88 (782)kJ d(-1) (P = 0.69) was observed between the ActiReg system and DW. REE explained 52% of the variation in TEE from DW. Adding physical activity energy expenditure from the ActiReg system (PAEE(AR) = TEEAR-REE) increased the explained variation in TEE from DLW with 16%. Conclusions: The ActiReg system is valid in assessing energy requirement in non-hospitalized patients with severe COPD. The unique feature of being able to discriminate within both the low intensity activity range and moderate-to- high intensity activity range makes the ActiReg system a valuable tool in clinical nutritional support. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.