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Published on: August 17, 2022
Feasibility of bioelectrical impedance analysis in children with a severe generalized cerebral palsy
Rebekka Veugelers1, Corine Penning, Michiel E van Gulik
1Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a feasible method for assessing the nutritional status of children with severe generalized cerebral palsy. Most children tolerated the test, showing decreased body water and fat-free mass compared to references.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Assessment Tools
- Neuromuscular Disorders
Background:
- Accurate nutritional assessment is crucial for children with severe generalized cerebral palsy.
- Existing methods may be challenging to implement in this population.
- Severe generalized cerebral palsy involves significant motor and intellectual disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the feasibility of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in children with severe generalized cerebral palsy.
- To evaluate the nutritional state of these children using BIA.
Main Methods:
- Single-frequency BIA was performed on 35 children with severe generalized cerebral palsy.
- Feasibility was assessed by tolerance, comfort, and reproducibility of recordings.
- Arm span and body weight were also measured.
Main Results:
- BIA was tolerated by 97% of children and 97% felt comfortable.
- Reproducibility was limited by unstable resistance values in some cases.
- Total body water and fat-free mass were significantly lower than age-matched references.
Conclusions:
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a feasible nutritional assessment method for children with severe generalized cerebral palsy.
- The test is well-tolerated, suggesting its potential for wider use in this population.
- Further research is warranted to validate BIA in this specific group.
Objective:
The need is strong for an accurate and easy-to-perform test to evaluate the nutritional state of children who have a severe generalized cerebral palsy, defined as a severe motor handicap and an intellectual disability. For that purpose, we determined the feasibility of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in these children and evaluated their nutritional state.
Methods:
BIA recordings were done in 35 children who had a severe generalized cerebral palsy using a single-frequency BIA device. In addition, arm span and body weight were determined. Components of feasibility were whether the children tolerated the recording and felt comfortable and whether the recording could be performed in a reproducible way (prescribed body position and stable resistance and reactance values). All recordings were performed at specialized children's daycare centers or schools.
Results:
One child (3%) did not tolerate the recording, whereas the remaining 34 children (71%) felt comfortable. Most children (74%) could be placed in the prescribed position, but stability of resistance values was low. Stability of resistance values was positively influenced by older age, a quiet location for the recording, feeling comfortable, and a small number of people in the room. For 29 children, we were able to calculate values for total body water and fat-free mass. Compared with age-matched reference values, these values were significantly decreased in all age groups.
Conclusions:
The present pilot study has demonstrated that BIA recording is a feasible nutritional assessment method in children who have severe generalized cerebral palsy. Because the test procedure was well tolerated by most children, its value for use in this specific population deserves further investigation.
