Anthropometric evaluation, risk factors for malnutrition, and nutritional therapy for children in teaching hospitals in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate risk factors for malnutrition, nutritional status and nutritional support provided in hospitalized children.


METHODS
This longitudinal study prospectively followed, for 3 consecutive months, all children under 5 years of age (n = 907) hospitalized in general pediatric medical wards of 10 Brazilian university-based hospitals. For data collection, a standard questionnaire was used and nutritional condition was evaluated at hospital admission and discharge: weight-for-height, weight-for-age and height-for-age z score.


RESULTS
Only 56.7% of the children had their nutritional classification documented in the medical record. At hospital admission, 16.3 and 30.0% of the children had moderate/severe malnutrition and low stature, respectively. Risk of malnutrition was associated with low birth weight and younger age. A high percentage of nutritional deficiencies was observed in the children analyzed, although child's nutritional condition and the adoption of appropriate nutritional therapy were not documented in the medical records of the malnourished children.


CONCLUSIONS
These data underscore the importance of developing qualified hospital medical wards regarding diagnosis and therapeutic approach to malnutrition, based on the conduct guidelines already available in Brazil.
Sarni
Roseli O S
RO
Working Group on Child Malnutrition, Technical Area of Food and Nutrition, Health Policy Secretary, Brazilian Ministry of Health. rssarni@uol.com.br
Carvalho
Maria de Fátima C C
Mde F
Monte
Cristina M G do
CM
Albuquerque
Zuleica P
ZP
Souza
Fabíola I S
FI
D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors