Basal and Resting Metabolic Rates of Physically Disabled Adult Subjects: A Systematic Review of Controlled Cross-Sectional Studies

Aim: To systematically review studies that investigated the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) of physically disabled adult subjects. Methods: The studies were identified via MedLine, Science Direct, Science Search, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Wiley, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Cochrane, Indice Bibliografico Espanol de Ciencias de la Salud, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database and System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe. No restriction on publication date was imposed. Results: Data from 6 studies were included. The results showed that physically disabled adult subjects have a lower BMR and/or RMR compared to nondisabled subjects. However, the difference between the groups disappeared when the BMR and RMR were adjusted for fat-free mass. Due to the small number of studies on this subject and the limited types of physical disabilities evaluated in the literature, we could not make a definitive conclu