Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.MethodsThis secondary analysis of the COAST-Nutrition (ISRCTN10829073) included children hospitalized for severe p...

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Main Authors: Damalie Nalwanga, Elisa Giallongo, Victor Musiime, Sarah Kiguli, Peter Olupot Olupot, Florence Alaroker, Robert Opoka, Abner Tagoola, Mainga Hamaluba, Christabel Mogaka, Eva Nabawanuka, Charles Karamagi, André Briend, Kathryn Maitland
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1507360/full
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author Damalie Nalwanga
Damalie Nalwanga
Elisa Giallongo
Victor Musiime
Victor Musiime
Sarah Kiguli
Peter Olupot Olupot
Florence Alaroker
Robert Opoka
Robert Opoka
Abner Tagoola
Mainga Hamaluba
Christabel Mogaka
Eva Nabawanuka
Charles Karamagi
Charles Karamagi
André Briend
André Briend
Kathryn Maitland
Kathryn Maitland
author_facet Damalie Nalwanga
Damalie Nalwanga
Elisa Giallongo
Victor Musiime
Victor Musiime
Sarah Kiguli
Peter Olupot Olupot
Florence Alaroker
Robert Opoka
Robert Opoka
Abner Tagoola
Mainga Hamaluba
Christabel Mogaka
Eva Nabawanuka
Charles Karamagi
Charles Karamagi
André Briend
André Briend
Kathryn Maitland
Kathryn Maitland
author_sort Damalie Nalwanga
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.MethodsThis secondary analysis of the COAST-Nutrition (ISRCTN10829073) included children hospitalized for severe pneumonia in Uganda and Kenya. Undernutrition was defined as having either a weight-for-age z score, height-for-age z score, or weight-for-height/length z score below the median of the WHO reference population (< 0) or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) below 13.5 cm. Participants were randomized to receive 1 sachet of RUTF daily for 8 weeks in addition to the usual diet (intervention) or usual diet alone (control). The primary composite outcome for adverse events was any one of mortality, re-admission, or deterioration of nutritional status by day 90 of follow-up.ResultsOf 846 main trial participants, 741 (88%) met the inclusion criteria (intervention: 374 versus control: 367). Of 687 (93%) participants in whom the primary outcome was assessed, 370 (54%) experienced an adverse event, [intervention: 184/348 (53%) versus control: 186/339(54%)]. There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups, aOR 0.92 (95% CI 0.68, 1.24), p = 0.572. Adverse outcome risk reduced with increasing age, aOR 0.53, (95% CI 0.45, 0.62), p < 0.001.ConclusionRUTF supplementation did not reduce the high frequency of adverse outcomes in children aged 6–59 months following hospital admission with severe pneumonia. Nutritional support directly targeting metabolic needs post-pneumonia should be considered in the future.Clinical trial registrationISRCTN10829073, PACTR202106635355751.
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spelling doaj-art-de51145f1b45450ba0bdeb56dc9b2ba82025-08-20T02:32:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-06-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15073601507360Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumoniaDamalie Nalwanga0Damalie Nalwanga1Elisa Giallongo2Victor Musiime3Victor Musiime4Sarah Kiguli5Peter Olupot Olupot6Florence Alaroker7Robert Opoka8Robert Opoka9Abner Tagoola10Mainga Hamaluba11Christabel Mogaka12Eva Nabawanuka13Charles Karamagi14Charles Karamagi15André Briend16André Briend17Kathryn Maitland18Kathryn Maitland19Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaPaediatrics Research Group, Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, UgandaIntensive Care National Audit & Research Centre, London, United KingdomDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaJoint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaMbale Clinical Research Institute, Mbale, UgandaSoroti Regional Referral Hospital, Soroti, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaAga Khan University, Medical College East Africa, Nairobi, KenyaJinja Regional Referral Hospital, Jinja, UgandaKEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, KenyaKEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, KenyaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda0Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda1Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland2Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, DenmarkKEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya3Department of Infectious Disease, Institute of Global Health and Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United KingdomObjectivesTo investigate the effect of supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.MethodsThis secondary analysis of the COAST-Nutrition (ISRCTN10829073) included children hospitalized for severe pneumonia in Uganda and Kenya. Undernutrition was defined as having either a weight-for-age z score, height-for-age z score, or weight-for-height/length z score below the median of the WHO reference population (< 0) or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) below 13.5 cm. Participants were randomized to receive 1 sachet of RUTF daily for 8 weeks in addition to the usual diet (intervention) or usual diet alone (control). The primary composite outcome for adverse events was any one of mortality, re-admission, or deterioration of nutritional status by day 90 of follow-up.ResultsOf 846 main trial participants, 741 (88%) met the inclusion criteria (intervention: 374 versus control: 367). Of 687 (93%) participants in whom the primary outcome was assessed, 370 (54%) experienced an adverse event, [intervention: 184/348 (53%) versus control: 186/339(54%)]. There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups, aOR 0.92 (95% CI 0.68, 1.24), p = 0.572. Adverse outcome risk reduced with increasing age, aOR 0.53, (95% CI 0.45, 0.62), p < 0.001.ConclusionRUTF supplementation did not reduce the high frequency of adverse outcomes in children aged 6–59 months following hospital admission with severe pneumonia. Nutritional support directly targeting metabolic needs post-pneumonia should be considered in the future.Clinical trial registrationISRCTN10829073, PACTR202106635355751.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1507360/fullsevere pneumoniaundernutritionnutritional interventionAfrican childrenadverse outcomes
spellingShingle Damalie Nalwanga
Damalie Nalwanga
Elisa Giallongo
Victor Musiime
Victor Musiime
Sarah Kiguli
Peter Olupot Olupot
Florence Alaroker
Robert Opoka
Robert Opoka
Abner Tagoola
Mainga Hamaluba
Christabel Mogaka
Eva Nabawanuka
Charles Karamagi
Charles Karamagi
André Briend
André Briend
Kathryn Maitland
Kathryn Maitland
Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
Frontiers in Nutrition
severe pneumonia
undernutrition
nutritional intervention
African children
adverse outcomes
title Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
title_full Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
title_fullStr Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
title_full_unstemmed Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
title_short Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia
title_sort supplementation with ready to use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6 59 months with severe pneumonia
topic severe pneumonia
undernutrition
nutritional intervention
African children
adverse outcomes
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1507360/full
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