Features of resting energy expenditure in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer

Objective To observe the features of resting energy expenditure（REE） in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods Sixty patients with gastrointestinal cancer and 60 non-cancer patients at the age of 60 or over 60 years were enrolled as experimental group and control group,respectively.Their REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry and their nutritional status was estimated by mini-nutritional assessment（MNA）.The REE value was predicted following the Harris-Benedict equation. Results The REE was lower in experimental group than in control group（P＜0.05）.The REE value predicted following the Harris-Benedict equation was significantly higher than the detected REE value（P＜0.05）.The average empirical value of estimated energy expenditure was 1.5 times that of the measured REE. Conclusion The REE is lower in elderly male patients with gastrointestinal cancer than in those with no gastrointestinal cancer.The Harris-Benedict equation cannot accurately predict energy expenditure and empirical value may lead to over-feeding in such patients.