Measuring Total Energy Expenditure in Critically Ill Patients Using the Doubly Labelled Water Method

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Critical Illness

In brief

Critically ill patients, such as those with trauma or sepsis, experience high rates of malnutrition (up to 75%). Malnutrition worsens outcomes by increasing infection rates, hospital stays, mortality, and healthcare costs. Adequate nutrition is therefore crucial in the ICU. To ensure appropriate nutrition, accurate determination of total energy expenditure (TEE) is essential. In practice, predictive equations are often used, but these can misestimate TEE in ICU patients due to complex metabolic changes. Indirect calorimetry is recommended but limited by technical constraints. Consequently, the doubly labeled water (DLW) method, though expensive, offers a precise and non-invasive way to measure TEE over time. This study applies the DLW method in ICU patients to improve energy assessment and guide personalized nutrition strategies that support recovery and outcomes.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07256340

Run by

Maastricht University Medical Center

People needed

50

Starts

2025-12-01

Expected to finish

2026-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-12-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Admitted to the ICU of Jessa Hospital
• Male and female sexes
• Age: > 18 years old
• Expected ICU stay of 5 days or more

You may not qualify if…

• Dialysis

Where it is running

• Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse — Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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