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National malnutrition screening days in hospitalised children in The Netherlands

K F Joosten1, H Zwart, W C Hop

  • 1Erasmus MC, Sophia's Children Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. k.joosten@erasmusmc.nl

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Nineteen percent of hospitalized children in the Netherlands are malnourished upon admission. This high prevalence of childhood malnutrition necessitates routine screening and treatment protocols in pediatric care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Hospital Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Nationwide prevalence data on malnutrition in hospitalized children in the Netherlands is lacking.
  • Malnutrition poses a significant risk to pediatric patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition in newly admitted children across Dutch hospitals.
  • To identify factors associated with malnutrition in hospitalized children.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective observational study was conducted over 3 days in 44 Dutch hospitals.
  • 424 children (≥30 days old) admitted to pediatric wards were assessed for malnutrition using SD scores for weight-for-height and height-for-age.
  • Data on patient demographics, underlying conditions, and hospital type were collected.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 19% of admitted children presented with acute and/or chronic malnutrition.
  • Chronic malnutrition was more prevalent in academic hospitals (14%) compared to general hospitals (6%).
  • Underlying disease and non-white ethnicity were significantly associated with higher malnutrition prevalence, particularly chronic malnutrition. Acute malnutrition was linked to a 45% longer hospital stay.

Conclusions:

  • A substantial proportion (19%) of children admitted to Dutch hospitals exhibit malnutrition at admission.
  • The findings highlight the urgent need for implementing routine malnutrition screening and effective treatment strategies in pediatric healthcare settings.
  • Addressing malnutrition in hospitalized children is crucial for improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare delivery.
Abstract

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