Nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status, and provide information regarding anthropometric measurements of cerebral-palsied children living in the city of Ankara, Turkey.


METHODS
A total of 447 children with cerebral palsy (CP) were participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were assessed for functional motor impairment by the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). Assesment of nutritional status was based on the triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), arm fat area (AFA) estimates derived from TSF and mid-upper arm circumference measurements. TSF and AFA Z-scores were computed using reference data.


RESULTS
Cerebral-palsied children had lower TSF and AFA Z-scores compared to reference data from healthy children. The prevalence of underweight and overweight among boys was 8.3 and 9.5%, respectively, whereas it was 19.0 and 0.5% for girls. Underweight was more prevalent in the low functioning children than in moderate functioning children.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study indicate that cerebral-palsied children face nutritional challenges. Underweight is more prevalent than overweight among cerebral-palsied children. To optimize the outcomes of rehabilitation and prevention efforts, an understanding of the heterogeneity of nutritional status among children with CP is required.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey. handan.tuzun@gmail.com
Emine Handan
EH
Tüzün
Duygu Korkem
DK
Güven
Levent
L
Eker
Bülent
B
Elbasan
Selda Fatma
SF
Bülbül
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012015:Reference Standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population