P561 - RESTING ENERGY EXPENDITURE AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION AND AFTER LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE IMPLANTATION.

P561

RESTING ENERGY EXPENDITURE AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION AND AFTER LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE IMPLANTATION.

C. Tessari¹, S. Balzani¹, A. Cusmano¹, L. Ferrari¹, G. Morbin¹, S. Pinton¹, L. Rumanò¹, F. Francini Pesenti^1,*

¹Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

Rationale: Rationale: Appropriate assessment of nutrition requirements in patients with heart transplantation (HT) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is critical to prevent an imbalance between nutrient intake and their needs. We evaluated resting energy expenditure (REE) and its relationship with body composition in two groups of patients with HT and LVAD.

Methods: Methods: We evaluated 63 consecutive patients , who underwent HT (n.50, 34 males, age 30-75 y) or LVAD implantation (n.13, all males, age 22-66 y) 3 to 6 months before. Body composition with bioimpedance analysis (Akern Physiological data anlyzer EFG) and resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry (Q-NRG Metabolic Monitor) were evaluated.

Results: Results: Mean body mass index was lower, but not significantly, in HT patients (25.7 ± 4.8 kg/m2) respect to LVAD patients (27.3 ± 3.5 kg/m2). Similarly, fat mass (26.1 ± 10.0 % vs 28.5 ± 6.8 %), free fat mass (73.9 ± 10,2 %vs 71.5 ± 6.8 %), and phase angle (5.7 ± 1.1 vs 5.6 ± 1.0 degrees) did not vary significantly between the two groups. On the contrary, REE/kg of body weight and REE/fat free mass were significantly higher in HT patients, respectively: 22.8 ± 3.5 vs 18.8 ± 3.5 Kilocal/kg/d (p<0.05), and 31.8 ± 3.9 vs 27.4 ± 5.7 (p<0.01).

Conclusion: Conclusions: LVAD patents showed a lower REE respect to HT patients and this can promote overweight. If confirmed in larger studies, this evidence will need to be taken into account to avoid an excessive weight gain and its mechanisms better explained.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared