Growth and nutritional status in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Growth retardation, delayed puberty and malnutrition are frequently observed in children suffering from cystic fibrosis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate growth and nutritional status in children with cystic fibrosis on the basis of body proportions and body mass index.


METHODS
Anthropometric data were collected from the medical histories of 62 patients treated in three cystic fibrosis treatment centers in Poland. Anthropometric parameters were expressed in terms of standard deviations away from age-specific and sex-specific reference means reported for the population of Poland. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether the type of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation is correlated with age at the time of diagnosis and with body proportions.


RESULTS
The type of mutation was significantly correlated with height, weight and transverse chest width. Growth retardation was greater in subjects diagnosed before they were 3 years old than in subjects diagnosed later. The children had infantile body proportions. Their legs were short and their trunks were long in comparison to their height. Almost 40% of the subjects suffered from malnourishment.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study is needed to determine how growth in children with cystic fibrosis is affected by clinical practice and socio-economic factors.
Umławska
Wioleta
W
Department of Anthropology, University of Wrocław, Poland. wilota@antropo.uni.wroc.pl
Susanne
Charles
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009154:Mutation; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011044:Poland; D011627:Puberty; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D013909:Thorax / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development
D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator