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[The nutritional status of the child entering the Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara]
E M Vásquez-Garibay1, D M Sandoval-Galindo, M R Kumazawa-Ichikawa
1Unidad de Estudios de Nutrición Infantil, Nuevo Hospital Civil, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara Jalisco, México.
Insights
This study assessed the nutritional status of 278 hospitalized children in Guadalajara. Results indicate a high prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition, suggesting poor quality of life and increased illness in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Assessing childhood nutritional status is crucial for identifying health disparities.
- Hospitalized children often face unique nutritional challenges.
- Understanding malnutrition prevalence informs targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized children in Guadalajara.
- To compare different methods for identifying undernutrition.
- To assess the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements (weight/age, weight/height, height/age) were taken for 278 children.
- Nutritional status was assessed using Gómez and Waterlow classifications, comparing Ramos-Galván and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference patterns.
- Median, percentile, and Z-score parameters were utilized; total protein and hemoglobin levels were measured.
Main Results:
- Mean height/age was 95.74% (NCHS), weight/age was 84.04%, and weight/height was 89.7%.
- The median system identified more cases of nutritional deficit than the Z-score method.
- A high prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition was observed.
Conclusions:
- The median system appears more sensitive for detecting malnutrition in this population.
- High malnutrition rates suggest poor quality of life and significant morbidity among hospitalized children.
- Findings highlight the need for improved nutritional support and public health initiatives for vulnerable children.
Abstract:
With the purpose to evaluate the nutritional status of children hospitalized in the Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, they were included 278 subjects that entered in the infant, preschool, schoolchildren and infectious disease clinical ward of the Division of Pediatrics. There were chosen two subjects every day during one year. It was obtained information about family and sociodemographic background. In addition, there were undertaken anthropometric measurements; weight/age, weight/height and height/age indices were also calculated. It was obtained the parameters of median, percentiles and Z-score. Undernutrition was determined by the Gómez and Waterlow classifications. Is was also compared the reference pattern of Ramos-Galván and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Blood was drawn for total protein and hemoglobin. Mean of height/age was 95.74% (NCHS), weight/age 84.04% and weight/height 89.7%. It was not difference on weight/age between Ramos-Galván and NCHS. Weight/height and height/age had little difference. The median system identified more cases with deficit than Z-score, which seems to be more specific and conservative. There is a high prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition identified with the median system, and maybe reflects the poor quality of life and major morbidity in this population.