Nutritional status and weakness following pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Nutrition Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Survivorship following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) has improved.
• Long-term care must address risks like poor diet and sedentary behavior, leading to obesity and cardiometabolic issues.
• Nutrition and physical activity are vital for survivor well-being, but data are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional status and physical capacity of pediatric HCT survivors.
• To identify correlations between nutritional status, dietary habits, physical activity, and muscle strength.
• To evaluate the feasibility of comprehensive nutritional assessments in this population.

Main Methods:

• Conducted comprehensive nutritional assessments on 36 pediatric HCT survivors (aged 2-25 years).
• Included nutrition-focused physical exams, grip strength measurements, and food/activity surveys.
• Categorized patients into undernutrition, normal nutrition, and overnutrition groups.

Main Results:

• 50% of survivors had normal nutrition, 22% undernutrition, and 28% overnutrition.
• Few met U.S. Dietary Guidelines for vegetables, fiber, saturated fat, and added sugars.
• Undernutrition was linked to lower grip strength; overnutrition showed weakness when normalized to body mass.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive nutritional assessments and grip strength measurements are feasible, non-invasive tools for pediatric HCT survivors.
• These methods effectively identify both under- and overnutrition.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted nutritional and physical activity interventions in HCT survivorship care.