[Nutritional risk and malnutrition determination by anthropometry in cirrhotic children and adolescents].
BACKGROUND
The malnutrition is a frequent finding in adults with cirrhosis, but the prevalence of nutritional risk and malnutrition is little known in pediatric patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate through anthropometry the presence of nutritional risk and malnutrition in cirrhotic pediatric patients regularly attended at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Service of "Hospital de Clínicas" of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with 42 cirrhotic children and adolescents aged between 3 months and 18 years. The nutritional evaluation was made by the determination of the weight/age, height/age, body mass index and triceps skinfold thickness and arm muscle circumference measurements. Patients considered in nutritional risk were < or = -1,28 Z score which corresponds to < or = 10th percentile, and those under -2,0 Z and < or = 3th percentile were in malnutrition status. According to Child-Pugh criteria, 22 patients were classified as A (mild severity), 15 (moderate) B and 5 C (intense).


RESULTS
The mean weight/age, height/age and body mass index Z scores were, respectively, - 0,38 +/- 1,4 SD, - 0,83 +/- 1,16 SD and 0,17 +/- 1,3 SD. Patients in nutritional risk were 3/42 (weight/age), 8/42 (height/age), 12/37 (triceps skinfold thickness), 9/37 (arm muscle circumference), 2/38 (body mass index); in malnutrition status were 6/42 (weight/age), 7/42 (height/age), 4/37 (triceps skinfold thickness) and 4/37 (arm muscle circumference) and 3/38 (body mass index).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of nutritional risk was 32.4% and chronic malnutrition was 16.7%. The index which better reflected the nutritional risk in these patients was triceps skinfold thickness. Chronic malnutrition status occurrence was greater in the height/age index.
Schneider
Ana Cláudia Reis
AC
Setor de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Departamento de Pediatria do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Pinto
Raquel Borges
RB
Silveira
Themis Reverbel da
TR
D000293:Adolescent; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index