title: Bioelectric impedance analysis of body composition of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body composition indices are widely used to evaluate growth and nutrition in children, particularly those with sickle cell anemia (SCA), who are known to have impaired growth, impaired skeletal maturation, and delayed puberty. The current study is aimed at determining the body composition of children with SCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive selection of SCA children aged 6 to 18 years, who served as subjects and their age and gender matched children with HbAA (controls), selected using multi-stage systematic sampling. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic. Bioelectric impedance analysis was used to determine the body composition parameters, including weight, body fat percentage (BFP), visceral fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle percentage, and resting metabolic rate. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-two subjects and controls respectively were studied. Subjects had lower body composition parameters compared with controls, with the older male subjects aged 10 to 18 years, having lower body composition indices (weight, height, BMI, and BFP) compared with controls. Visceral fat percentage was low in both subjects and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with SCA, particularly the older males, have impaired body composition indices. There is a need to conduct further studies to determine the longitudinal aspects of growth as well as quantitative and qualitative assessment of nutritional intake in children with SCA, which will inform higher alimentation requirements for HbSS children as compared with HbAA individuals.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria , Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu , Nigeria.
authors: Christopher Bismarck
authors: CB
authors: Eke
authors: Bartholomew Friday
authors: BF
authors: Chukwu
authors: Anthony Nnaemeka
authors: AN
authors: Ikefuna
authors: Osita Uchenna
authors: OU
authors: Ezenwosu
authors: Ifeoma Josephine
authors: IJ
authors: Emodi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria
keywords: Enugu; bioelectric impedance analysis; body composition; children; sickle cell anemia