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Comparison of three different nutrition screening tools for pediatric inpatients
Nilgun Seremet Kurklu1, Ferda Geyin2, Latife Ceylan3
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Early detection of malnutrition risk in hospitalized children is crucial. The Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and Pediatric Nutrition Screening Tool (PNST) show high sensitivity for assessing malnutrition in pediatric inpatients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Assessment
- Public Health
Background:
- Early identification of malnutrition risk in hospitalized children is vital to prevent complications.
- This study addresses the need for reliable nutrition screening tools in pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess malnutrition risk in pediatric inpatients using three distinct screening tools.
- To evaluate the reliability and sensitivity of these nutrition screening tools.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 176 children (1-16 years) admitted to a pediatric service.
- Nutrition status assessed using height for age (HFA), weight for age (WFA), and body mass index for age (BFA) z-scores.
- Malnutrition risk evaluated using STRONGkids, Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS), and Pediatric Nutrition Screening Tool (PNST).
Main Results:
- Malnutrition incidence was 8.5% (HFA), 14.8% (BFA), and 6.3% (WFA).
- WFA z-scores were significantly higher in children without malnutrition risk (P < 0.05).
- PYMS demonstrated high sensitivity for WFA (90.9%) and BFA (84.6%); PNST showed high sensitivity for HFA (88.9%).
Conclusions:
- The Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and Pediatric Nutrition Screening Tool (PNST) are effective for malnutrition risk assessment in pediatric inpatients.
- Both PYMS and PNST exhibit high sensitivity, supporting their clinical utility.
Background:
Early detection of children at risk of developing malnutrition during hospitalization prevents the development of complications. This study aims to determine the malnutrition risk of pediatric inpatients by using three different nutrition screening tools and to evaluate the reliability/sensitivity of the screening tools.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 176 children who were 1-16 years of age and were admitted to the pediatrics service of a second-line hospital. Body weight and height were used to evaluate the nutrition status of children. Age- and sex-specific z-score values for height for age (HFA), weight for age (WFA), and body mass index for age (BFA) were indicators of malnutrition. The Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids), Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS), and Pediatric Nutrition Screening Tool (PNST) were used under the responsibility of pediatricians and dietitians to evaluate the risk of malnutrition in children.
Results:
At admission, according to the HFA, BFA, and WFA SD scores (SDSs), the incidence of malnutrition in children was 8.5%, 14.8%, and 6.3%, respectively. Three screening tools determined that WFA SDSs were significantly higher in children without malnutrition risk than in those at risk of malnutrition (P < 0.05). PYMS revealed a relatively higher sensitivity of 90.9% and 84.6% for WFA and BFA, respectively, and PNST revealed a relatively higher sensitivity of 88.9% for HFA.
Conclusions:
PYMS and PNST are suitable for use in malnutrition risk assessment in pediatric inpatients because of the screening tools' high sensitivity.
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