Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Change in Nutritional Status of Children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit over First 14 Days: A Prospective
Morik Loyi1, Devendra Mishra1, Urmila Jhamb1
1Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital (Delhi University), New Delhi, India.
Insights
Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients experienced worsening nutritional status within two weeks, despite early enteral feeding. Skinfold calipers proved feasible for serial monitoring in the PICU setting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Intensive Care
- Nutritional Assessment
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Nutritional status is critical in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.
- Serial anthropometric measurements can track nutritional changes.
- Early enteral feeding is a common strategy to support nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in nutritional status in PICU children using serial skinfold thickness measurements.
- To investigate the association of these changes with patient, disease, and biochemical factors.
- To evaluate the relationship between nutritional changes and the initiation of enteral feeds.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 50 children aged 2-5 years in an Indian PICU.
- Measured serial anthropometric parameters (skinfold thickness, weight, MUAC) at baseline and follow-up points.
- Interpreted data using World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of underweight (58%), wasting (52%), and short stature (52%) at admission.
- A majority of children showed reductions in triceps skinfold thickness (64%), weight loss (72%), and decreased MUAC (58%) during PICU stay.
- No significant association found between nutritional changes and age, illness severity, outcome, or early enteral feeding.
Conclusions:
- Skinfold calipers are a feasible tool for serial nutritional monitoring in the PICU.
- Nutritional status deteriorates in the first two weeks of PICU admission.
- Current early enteral feeding policies may not prevent nutritional decline in this population.
Background And Aims:
We studied changes in nutritional status from baseline, as measured by serial skinfold thickness measurements and their association with patient factors, disease factors, and biochemical factors, as well as time to the start of enteral feeds.
Patients And Methods:
We enrolled 50 consecutive children aged 2-5 years from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a public sector hospital in India between 14 February, 2024 and 31 August, 2024. Baseline demographic and clinical data were recorded. Serial anthropometric parameters were measured for all children at the time of admission (+4 hours), day 3, day 7, and day 14 or at hospital discharge, if earlier. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts to interpret the anthropometric data.
Results:
Of the 50 children enrolled (mean age 3.17 ± 1.22 years; 46% females), 58% were underweight, 52% had wasting, and 52% had short stature at admission. Only 10% children (n = 5) had triceps skinfold thickness for age <-2 standard deviation (SD) at baseline. 32 (64%) of the children demonstrated a reduction in triceps skinfold thickness, 72% (n = 36) experienced weight loss, and 58% (n = 29) showed a decrease in mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). However, we did not find a statistically significant association of change in triceps skinfold thickness with age, severity of illness, outcome, duration of stay, and early start of enteral feeds.
Conclusion:
This study shows the feasibility of skinfold calipers as a serial monitoring tool in the PICU. Nutritional status worsens during the initial 2 weeks of PICU stay, despite early enteral feeding policies.