title: Hospital-acquired malnutrition in children with mild clinical conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the incidence and risk factors of hospital-acquired malnutrition in children with mild illness (grade 1 clinical conditions) and its timing of occurrence. The aim of this study was to recognize any early stage of denutrition and possible risk factors leading to nutritional deterioration in children hospitalized due to mild clinical conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred ninety-six children (age 1-192 mo) with mild clinical conditions were studied. Weight and height were measured. Weight was assessed daily and body mass index (BMI) Z-score was calculated for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with a BMI Z-score <-2 SD on admission showed a mean BMI decrease at the end of their hospital stay, which was significantly higher than in children who showed a better nutritional condition at admission. Risk factors for hospital-acquired malnutrition were an age <24 mo, a duration of hospital stay >5 d, fever, and night-time abdominal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital stay has an impact on the nutritional status of children affected by mild clinical conditions. Children already malnourished on admission were found to be at risk for further nutritional deterioration during their hospital stay; and in all groups of children identified by their BMI Z-score at admission, nutritional status declined progressively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. a.campanozzi@unifg.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campanozzi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catucci
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canestrino
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giardino
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romondia
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettoello-Mantovani
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss