Indirect Calorimetry Guided Energy Provision in Critically Ill Patients With Obesity

Launched by AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND INTENSIVE CARE RESEARCH CENTRE · Sep 21, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The DIRECT trial is a study that aims to find out if a special method called indirect calorimetry can help doctors provide the right amount of energy to critically ill patients who are obese. This method measures how much energy a person's body is using, which can guide nutrition decisions in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The trial will include 60 patients who are on mechanical ventilation and are being treated in ICUs across Australia and New Zealand.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be adults aged 18 and older, have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and be between days 3 to 6 of their ICU stay while receiving specific types of nutrition. Patients with major burns, those on certain life-support machines, or with conditions that could make participating unwise will not be included. If they join the study, participants can expect to have their energy needs measured multiple times to help tailor their nutrition during their hospital stay. This trial is currently recruiting participants and aims to improve care for critically ill patients with obesity.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult (≥ 18 years) patients
• • Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2
• • Between day 3 and 6 of index ICU admission
• • Receiving invasive mechanical ventilation
• • Receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
• • Major burns (≥20% total body surface area)
• • Unable to perform indirect calorimetry within 24 hours of randomisation
• • Known pregnancy
• • Death is imminent
• • Treating clinician believes the study is not in the best interest of the patient