Nutritional risk evaluation and nutritional status characterization in hospitalized children: preliminary study

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitalized children have a potentially high risk to develop malnutrition [1]. Literature reported that previous nutritional risk screening is a key role to maintain or recovery the nutritional status in hospitalized patients [2], for different reasons, including energy need increased and decreased appetite as a result of the disease [1]. Thus, the aim of this work is identified nutritional risk and characterized nutritional status of hospitalized children.

Materials and methods: Following ethical committee of Hospital Beatriz Ângelo approval 34 children (1mo-17y) were selected to a cross-sectional study. This study was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 as revised in 2000. The nutritional risk screening was evaluated using STRONGkids and anthropometric measures were taken (weight, height). Acute and chronic malnutrition and nutritional status characterization were assessment through Z-score and World Health Organization cut-off point at hospital admission. Association between the STRONGkids score and and nutritional status were evaluated with Pearson correlation coefficient. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean body mass index z-score (±SD) at hospital admission was −0.02 (±0.73) and 0.27 (±2.27) for female (n = 6) and male (n = 9) respectively. The mean weight/height z-score (±SD) was 0.19 (±0.98) and −0.42 (±1.18) for female (n = 12) and male (n = 7), respectively. According to STRONGkids results, 52.9% presented a malnutrition medium risk mostly between 1–5 years old (26.4%) and it was not observed a malnutrition high risk at hospital admission moment. From that, 16.6% of study participation have acute malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition was 8.8%, which 73.5% was normoponderal children and 17.7% was obesity children. No significant association between STRONGkids score and nutritional status was observed (p = 0.092).

Discussion and conclusions: These results are according to literature, which 58.7% presented malnutrition medium risk, however 3.2% had a malnutrition high risk [2]. Although the sample half to have malnutrition medium risk, only 16.6% of those presented acute malnutrition, which is also demonstrated in Hulst et. al study [3]. The results of the association between STRONGkids score and nutritional status is in accordance with Oliveira et. al, which also did not demonstrate a significantly association [1]. In hospital admission although nutritional status could be not being affected, it is possible to exist a malnutrition risk. Thus, a previous screening allows a nutritional intervention in order to prevent and manage the malnutrition risk at hospitalized children.

Acknowledgements

The authors thanks to Hospital Beatriz Ângelo to allow study employed and to Nutrition Sciences Bacherol coordenator of IUEM for the curricular internship conditions.