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Nutritional assessment of pediatric patients admitted to an acute-care pediatric service utilizing anthropometric
Insights
A significant number of pediatric patients (32%) show signs of acute or chronic nutritional depletion upon hospital admission. Objective measurements like mid-upper arm circumference further highlight this prevalent risk in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Assessment
- Nutritional Status Evaluation
Background:
- Hospitalized pediatric patients are susceptible to nutritional deficits.
- Early identification of nutritional risk is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Objective nutritional assessment provides quantitative data on depletion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of nutritional depletion in pediatric patients upon hospital admission.
- To assess the utility of objective measurements in identifying nutritional risk.
- To highlight the importance of comprehensive nutritional assessments.
Main Methods:
- Nutritional assessment of 200 consecutive pediatric patients at admission.
- Utilized weight-for-height and height-for-age percentiles to define acute and chronic depletion.
- Measured mid-arm circumference and mid-arm muscle circumference.
Main Results:
- 32% of patients exhibited weight-for-height or height-for-age below the 5th percentile.
- A high prevalence of low mid-arm circumference was observed in depleted children (75% acute, 60% acute/chronic).
- Mid-arm muscle circumference was significantly more prevalent in all depleted children.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of pediatric patients are at nutritional risk upon hospital admission.
- Objective measurements are valuable indicators of nutritional depletion in children.
- A complete nutritional assessment requires both objective and subjective evaluations for optimal patient care.
Abstract:
Two hundred consecutive pediatric patients were given a nutritional assessment at the time of their admission to the hospital. A weight-for-height below the 5th percentile was an indication of acute depletion and a height-for-age below the 5th percentile a sign of chronic depletion. Measurement of weight-for-height and/or height-for-age was below the 5th percentile in 32% of those assessed. Seventy-five percent of the acutely depleted children and 60% of the acute and chronically depleted children had midarm circumferences below the 5th percentile. Midarm muscle circumference below the 5th percentile was significantly more prevalent in all the depleted children. This paper reports the results of our study of the objective (quantitative) elements of our nutritional assessment. These measurements indicate that a significant number of patients are at nutritional risk at the time they are admitted to the hospital. An adequate nutritional assessment cannot be limited to objective considerations, however. A complete medical evaluation of the patient is required, including objective and subjective considerations.