The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia
Undernourished children who require hospital care have a longer duration of hospitalization and respond poorly to modern medical therapy. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the nutritional status of children admitted to a pediatric tertiary center in Malaysia and the risk factors le...
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Elsevier
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Pediatrics and Neonatology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957217301018 |
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| author | Way-Seah Lee Zulfadly Ahmad |
| author_facet | Way-Seah Lee Zulfadly Ahmad |
| author_sort | Way-Seah Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Undernourished children who require hospital care have a longer duration of hospitalization and respond poorly to modern medical therapy. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the nutritional status of children admitted to a pediatric tertiary center in Malaysia and the risk factors leading to undernutrition upon admission.
Methods: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study, anthropometric measurements [weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were performed in 285 children aged from 3 months to 15 years who were admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur in November 2013. Acute (wasting) and chronic (stunting) undernutrition were defined as weight-for-height (WFH) and height-for-age (HFA) < −2 standard deviation (S.D.), respectively. Underweight was defined as weight-for-age < −2 S.D. For children aged between 1 and 5 years of age, World Health Organization definition for acute undernutrition (HFA < −2 S.D. and/or MUAC < 12.5 cm) was also noted.
Results: Upon admission, the prevalence rates of acute and chronic undernutrition were 11% (n = 32) and 14% (n = 41), respectively. In addition, 7% (n = 21) had an MUAC of < 12.5 cm, 15% had body-mass index < −2 S.D., and 7% (n = 21) had triceps skinfold thickness < −2 S.D., while 17% (n = 47) were underweight. Using the World Health Organization definition of acute undernutrition, an additional eight patients were noted to have acute undernutrition (n = 40, 14%). No significant risk factors associated with undernutrition were identified.
Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition among children admitted to a tertiary hospital in Malaysia was 14%. Strategies for systematic screening and provision of nutritional support in children at risk of undernutrition as well as treatment of undernutrition in children requiring hospitalization are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb574d6109704fdc877f23ce476b35a3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1875-9572 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Pediatrics and Neonatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb574d6109704fdc877f23ce476b35a32025-08-20T03:48:32ZengElsevierPediatrics and Neonatology1875-95722017-10-0158541542010.1016/j.pedneo.2016.08.010The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from MalaysiaWay-Seah Lee0Zulfadly Ahmad1Department of Paediatrics, University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Paediatrics, University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaUndernourished children who require hospital care have a longer duration of hospitalization and respond poorly to modern medical therapy. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the nutritional status of children admitted to a pediatric tertiary center in Malaysia and the risk factors leading to undernutrition upon admission. Methods: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study, anthropometric measurements [weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were performed in 285 children aged from 3 months to 15 years who were admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur in November 2013. Acute (wasting) and chronic (stunting) undernutrition were defined as weight-for-height (WFH) and height-for-age (HFA) < −2 standard deviation (S.D.), respectively. Underweight was defined as weight-for-age < −2 S.D. For children aged between 1 and 5 years of age, World Health Organization definition for acute undernutrition (HFA < −2 S.D. and/or MUAC < 12.5 cm) was also noted. Results: Upon admission, the prevalence rates of acute and chronic undernutrition were 11% (n = 32) and 14% (n = 41), respectively. In addition, 7% (n = 21) had an MUAC of < 12.5 cm, 15% had body-mass index < −2 S.D., and 7% (n = 21) had triceps skinfold thickness < −2 S.D., while 17% (n = 47) were underweight. Using the World Health Organization definition of acute undernutrition, an additional eight patients were noted to have acute undernutrition (n = 40, 14%). No significant risk factors associated with undernutrition were identified. Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition among children admitted to a tertiary hospital in Malaysia was 14%. Strategies for systematic screening and provision of nutritional support in children at risk of undernutrition as well as treatment of undernutrition in children requiring hospitalization are needed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957217301018hospitalizationrisk factorsundernutrition |
| spellingShingle | Way-Seah Lee Zulfadly Ahmad The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia Pediatrics and Neonatology hospitalization risk factors undernutrition |
| title | The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia |
| title_full | The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia |
| title_short | The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia |
| title_sort | prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country a single hospital study from malaysia |
| topic | hospitalization risk factors undernutrition |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957217301018 |
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