Weight-for-height Z-score improves in half of undernourished children hospitalized in surgical wards

Arch Pediatr. 2020 Nov;27(8):403-407. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2020.09.008. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Abstract

Background: Overall, 10-15% of hospitalized children are undernourished. The present study focuses on pediatric surgical wards. We assessed the impact of undernutrition upon admission on the weight-for-height Z-score (Z-WFH) during hospitalization for surgery. Secondary aims were to investigate the influence of associated factors and to report on the use of nutritional support.

Methods: All children hospitalized for a surgical procedure between July 2015 and March 2016 were included in this monocentric, prospective study. Children were divided into two groups: whether the Z-WFH upon admission was below -2 standard deviations (undernourished) or not (not undernourished).

Results: A total of 161 of 278 eligible children were included; 27 were undernourished (17%). The change in Z-WFH during hospitalization was greater in undernourished children (0.31±0.11 vs. -0.05±0.05, P=0.005). Of undernourished children, 49% recovered a Z-WFH above -2 SD during hospitalization. There was no difference between undernourished children and not undernourished children regarding age, length of hospital stay, pre- and post-operative duration of nil per os, duration of surgical procedure, ASA score, emergency level of the surgical procedure, and enteral/parenteral nutrition.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that the Z-WFH of undernourished children upon admission improved during hospitalization.

Keywords: Hospital stay; Nil per os; Nutritional support; Undernutrition.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Body Height
  • Body Weight
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / complications
  • Malnutrition / diagnosis
  • Malnutrition / therapy*
  • Nutritional Support* / methods
  • Nutritional Support* / standards
  • Nutritional Support* / statistics & numerical data
  • Operative Time
  • Perioperative Care* / methods
  • Perioperative Care* / standards
  • Perioperative Care* / statistics & numerical data
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Weight Gain
  • Weight Loss