[Nutritional risk to pediatric internation (pilot study).]
Gerardo Weisstaub1, Laura Arce, Victoria Brennan
1INTA, Universidad de Chile. gweiss@inta.uchile.cl.
Insights
Pediatric malnutrition at hospital admission affects nearly 20% of children, with over half at moderate nutritional risk. This highlights the critical need for routine nutritional status assessments in hospitalized pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition
- Public Health
Background:
- Malnutrition in hospitalized children is a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality.
- Early identification of nutritional status is crucial for improving patient care and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and undernourishment upon hospital admission in pediatric patients.
- To assess the frequency of nutritional risk among hospitalized children.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Dr. Humberto Notti.
- Nutritional screening using the Strong Kids tool was performed within 48 hours of admission.
- Anthropometric data were collected for nutritional diagnosis, with statistical analysis using Fisher and Student tests.
Main Results:
- Out of 134 pediatric patients, 17% presented with acute malnutrition at admission.
- A substantial 60% of patients were identified as having moderate nutritional risk.
- Patients with high nutritional risk experienced more frequent symptoms like pain, weight changes, reduced appetite, and diarrhea.
Conclusions:
- Approximately 20% of pediatric patients are malnourished or undernourished upon admission.
- More than half of hospitalized children exhibit moderate nutritional risk.
- Systematic nutritional status evaluation is essential for all pediatric hospital admissions.
Background:
Malnutrition at admission of paediatric hospitalization is a risk factor for negative evolution and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The main objective was to learn about the frequency of malnutrition and undernourishment as well as the nutritional risk at hospital admission, through a sample of paediatric patients.
Material And Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional was taken, chosen from long term patients in Hospital Dr. Humberto Notti. A nutritional screening (Strong Kids) was applied, assessing nutritional risk within 48 hours. of hospital admission and nutritional diagnosis was obtained with the corresponding anthropometric data. For the statistical analysis, Fisher Test and Student test were used.
Results:
134 patients were admitted (59% women), 4 years of age, (1 to 9 years) (medium sized and IQR), and hospitalization lasted 4 days (3 to 7 days). At the ingress, 17% presented acute malnutrition, and 60% presented moderate nutritional risk. Those who suffered from high nutritional risk, went through more frequent pain, change of weight, less eating, diarrhea, and signs of undernourishment, than those who suffered from moderated nutritional risk. (Fisher < 0, 0001).
Conclusion:
Malnutrition or undernourishment at hospital admission affects about the 20% of patients and more than half presents moderated nutritional risk. These two observations justify the systematic carrying out of an evaluation of the nutritional status
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