Risk of Deficit in the Nutritional Status of Children Hospitalized at Admission vs More than Seven Days
Authors: Vasquez‐Garibay Edgar M , Muñoz‐Esparza Nelly C , Romero‐Velarde Enrique , Troyo‐Sanroman Rogelio 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

During growth and development, children are characterized by a high demand for nutrients, particularly in infant and pubertal stage. Research has shown how the nutritional status may be affected during hospitalization. It has been observed in many hospitals worldwide, the frequency of weight loss during hospitalization in the pediatric population and between 7 and 51% of hospitalized patients. The aim was to show that the nutritional status of children admitted to hospital differs from the nutritional status of children who remain in the hospital longer than seven days.

Methods

In a prospective study of the subject as its own control, with a non‐random sampling in site concentration, 746 participants hospitalized in the last 24 hours each day, Monday through Friday, that met the criteria inclusion and informed consent was signed were included. Anthropometric assessment (weight, height, c. cephalic and arm circumference) at admission and stay seven days was performed. Wilcoxon test, chi‐square test and odds ratios to identify the epidemiological significance was estimated. The research protocol was approved by bioethics committees of the Hospital Civil of Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca.

Results

Infants were the most affected age group at the hospital admission in both acute deficit indicators (weight/height and BMI) as well as in indicators of chronic deficit index (height/age and head circumference). One might speculate that the impact on acute and chronic deficits improved over the years since it was very evident how in school children and adolescents, almost all anthropometric indicators were normalized; however, also it is possible for the current school and adolescents had had a better nutritional status ten or more years ago. The risk of the anthropometric deficit was significantly higher in the population after the seven days of admission to hospital. The odds ratio of deficit height/age index and head circumference were different but in either cases meant previous or chronic malnutrition, table 1. One likely reason is that the head circumference was measured only in children under three years and the height/age index in the entire study population.

Conclusion

Patients with longer hospitalization involve greater risk of the nutritional status. Infants are the most vulnerable group to malnutrition at admission that improved at seven days while adolescents showed greater impairment of nutritional status during their hospitalization.

Support or Funding Information

National Council for Science and Technology of Mexico

Risk deficit of indicators anthropometric in children hospitalized more than seven days vs less than seven days

Indicator
≥ seven days
< seven days
OR
CI
P

n/N
%
n/N
%

Weight/a
54/154
35
64/428
15
3.07
2.01–4.7
p<0.001

Weight/height
28/120
23.3
29/302
9.6
2.9
1.6–5.07
p<0.001

BMI/age
52/206
25.2
58/555
10.5
2.9
1.9–4.4
p<0.001

Height/age
42/206
20.3
70/565
12.4
1.77
1.16–2.7
p= 0.007

C. Cephalic
31/97
32
33/221
14.9
2.68
1.5–4.7
p<0.001