The measurement of energy expenditure in critically ill patients using indirect calorimetry

Indirect calorimetry (IC) determines energy expenditure by measuring oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. It represents the clinical gold standard for guiding targeted nutrition therapy in critical illness, as predictive energy equations are frequently inaccurate. Our research group leads a broad portfolio of projects evaluating longitudinal IC datasets collected during critical illness, in collaboration with clinical partner sites. These initiatives aim to characterise metabolic trajectories across phases of critical illness and establish robust evidence platforms for quality improvement and observational research in critically ill patients. Please feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss potential indirect calorimetry research projects in more detail.