Malnutrition at diagnosis of malignancy in childhood: common but mostly missed.
A prospective, controlled study of nutritional status in 100 newly diagnosed paediatric oncology patients is reported. Results showed that although patients' height-for-age and weight-for-height were normal, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT) were significantly less than reference and control values. Moreover, 20% of patients had MUAC below the 5th percentile (P less than 0.001) and 23% had TSFT more than 2 SD below the mean (P less than 0.001). The discrepancy between these assessments is attributed to the effect of large tumour masses masking diminished true body weight. Children with intra-abdominal solid tumours had significantly lower MUAC and TSFT than those with either extra-abdominal solid tumours or leukaemia, and were more likely to be malnourished based on arm anthropometric criteria. Of all subjects, 44% were consuming less than 80% of their recommended daily allowance of energy at diagnosis, compared with 0% of controls (P = 0.001).
Smith
D E
DE
Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, UK.
Stevens
M C
MC
Booth
I W
IW
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012885:Skinfold Thickness