FDA Clears Q-NRG+ from Baxter and COSMED

Baxter International Inc., today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of Q-NRG+, a metabolic monitoring device utilizing indirect calorimetry (IC) technology. IC is considered the “gold standard”¹  to accurately measure a patient’s calorie needs, or resting energy expenditure (REE). These readings can help inform prescription and administration of nutrition therapy, which may include parenteral nutrition (PN), the intravenous administration of nutrients. Q-NRG+ is expected to be available in the United States beginning at the ASPEN 2020 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference taking place March 28 – 31, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.
 
As part of its partnership with COSMED, Baxter has rights to bring Q-NRG+ to at least 18 markets around the globe, with the potential for further expansion. The 510(k) clearance is the latest regulatory approval for Q-NRG+, which is currently available in 12 countries in Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
 
Hospital malnutrition is a serious public health issue in the United States. Approximately two million hospital stays in the U.S. involve malnutrition,² and almost a quarter of U.S. patients with malnutrition were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge.³ Hospitalized patients with malnutrition may require PN therapy if they cannot be fed orally or enterally (tube feeding). 
 
Traditional methods of estimating caloric requirements use predictive equations that are based on factors like weight, height, gender, and age. However, research has shown that these equations often result in inaccurate measurements and could result in overfeeding or underfeeding.^{4, 5}
 
“It can be challenging to prescribe clinical nutrition without knowing the exact caloric needs of a patient,” said Heather Knight, general manager, U.S. Hospital Products, Baxter. “With Q-NRG+, clinicians will have access to the latest technology to accurately measure energy requirements and won’t have to rely on predictive equations or dated technology — which can be cumbersome and time consuming.”
 
Q-NRG+ is designed around flexibility and hospital efficiency, and features a compact, portable design that can be moved between patient rooms. The device requires minimal time to warm-up and calibrates automatically between uses. Q-NRG+ can be used to test both adult and pediatric patients, as well as spontaneously breathing or mechanically ventilated patients.
 
References:
¹ Frankenfield D, Ashcraft C. Estimating Energy Needs in Nutrition Support Patients. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 35(5). 2011. 563-570.
² Weiss AJ, et al. Characteristics of Hospital Stays Involving Malnutrition, 2013. HCUP Statistical Brief #210.
³ Fingar K, et al. All-Cause Readmissions Following Hospital Stays for Patients with Malnutrition, 2013. HCUP Statistical Brief #218.
⁴ Neelemaat F, de van der Schuren M, Thijs A, et al. Resting energy expenditure in malnourished older patients at hospital admission and three months after discharge: Predictive equations versus measurements. Clinical Nutrition. 31 (2012) 958-966.
⁵ Zusman O, Kagan I, Bendavid I, et al. Predictive equations versus measured energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry: A retrospective validation. Clinical Nutrition. 38 (2019) 1206-1210.