[Malnutrition in children with chronic bronchitis].
OBJECTIVE
To study nutritional status in children with chronic bronchitis (CB) in relation with lung function.


METHODS
In this cohort of study, 46 patients aged 6.0 to 17.5 years (mean: 11.9 years) with chronic bronchitis were recruited. None had cystic fibrosis. Body weight, height, skinfold thicknesses, percentage of ideal body weight-for-height (percentage of IBW), body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, fat mass and fat-free mass were used to evaluate nutritional status. Arterial blood gases, vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one s (FEV1), functional residual capacity (FRC) and maximum inspiratory (Pi(max)) and expiratory (Pe(max)) pressures at the mouth were used to evaluate respiratory function.


RESULTS
Thirteen children (28%) had malnutrition defined as percentage of IBW lower than 90%, with a predominant fat mass depletion. VC (65+/-13% versus 79+/-15%; p=0.006) and FEV1 (59+/-16% versus 69+/-14%; p=0.03) were significantly lower in children with malnutrition than in children without malnutrition, but no significant differences were observed with regard to the FEV1/VC ratio and blood gases. Pi(max) (56+/-11% versus 88+/-37%, p=0,02) and Pe(max) (46+/-12% versus 58+/-19%, p=0,3) were also lower in children with malnutrition as compared to than without malnutrition.


CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition can be observed in children with CB and is associated with significant lower lung function parameters. This could be explained by decrease in respiratory muscle strength.
Service de gastroentérologie et nutrition pédiatrique, hôpital Armand-Trousseau, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris-6, Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris, 26 avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter, Paris, France. sheila.viola@trs.aphp.fr
S
S
Viola
M
M
Boulé
P
P
Tounian
L
L
Huyn Thi Hong
M
M
Medjadi
B
B
Fauroux
J-P
JP
Girardet
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity