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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Does obesity impact the pattern and outcome of trauma in children?
Nahar Alselaim1, Haifa Malaekah, Mayssa Saade
1King Abdulaziz Bin Saud University for Health Science, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Childhood obesity did not significantly impact injury severity or mortality in injured children. However, obese children showed higher rates of rib and pelvic fractures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a global health concern with understudied effects on trauma outcomes.
- Understanding obesity's impact on injured children is crucial for effective healthcare management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity and hospital outcomes in pediatric trauma patients.
- To determine if obesity influences injury patterns, severity, and mortality in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 2-18 year olds admitted between 2001-2009.
- Patients classified as lean (BMI <95th percentile) or obese (BMI ≥95th percentile).
- Comparison of demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, and mortality between groups.
Main Results:
- Obese children (5.89%) were older, with higher injury severity scores and lower pediatric trauma scores.
- Obese children had increased likelihood of rib fractures and pelvic injuries.
- No significant differences in mortality, sex, mechanism of injury, or surgical procedures were observed.
Conclusions:
- Obesity in children does not appear to affect overall injury severity, mortality, or procedural outcomes.
- Obese pediatric trauma patients exhibit a higher incidence of specific injuries, notably rib and pelvic fractures.
Purpose/Background:
Childhood obesity is pandemic condition. The effect of obesity on trauma outcomes in children has been relatively understudied. We conducted this study to ascertain the effects of obesity on the hospital outcome of injured children.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of patients aged 2 to 18 years admitted to the King Abdul Aziz Medical City between May 2001 and May 2009 was conducted. Patients were categorized as lean (body mass index <95th percentile) and obese (body mass index ≥ 95th percentile). Groups were compared regarding admission demographics, mechanism of injury, pattern of injury, length of stay, intensive care unit admission, ventilation duration, types of procedures performed, injury severity score, and mortality.
Result:
Nine hundred thirty-three patients were included, of those 55 (5.89%) children were obese. The obese children were older than nonobese (P = .001) and had a higher injury severity score (P = .001) and a lower pediatric trauma score (P = .00), heart rate (P = .0081), and respiratory rate (P = .000). There were no differences between groups with regard to sex, mechanism of injury, and surgical procedures. Obese children were more likely to have rib fractures (P = .02) and pelvic injuries (P = .033). There was no significant association between mortality and obesity (P = .42).
Conclusion:
Obesity does not seem to impact the severity of injury, mortality rate, types of injury, and procedure outcomes in children. Obese patients are more likely to have rib and pelvic injuries.
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