P339Nutritional status assessment in children with cystic fibrosis

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 102; no. Suppl 2; p. A164
• Main Authors: Cirstea, Olga, Turcu, Oxana, Jivalcovschi, Ala
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2017
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313273.427

BackgroundNutritional deficiency is the major clinical sign reported in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), being a consequence of the pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and increased energy requirement. The frequency of poor nutritional status is reported differently in the literature: for developed countries with neonatal screening programmes, children with CF present malnutrition in 6%-14% cases; in countries with late-age diagnosis, malnutrition is diagnosed in 32%-57% of CF patients.AimThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional status of children with CF from the Republic of Moldova. Patients were divided into four age groups: children up to 2 years, aged 2 to 5 years, 5-10 years, and 10 to 18 years of age.MethodsBody mass index (BMI) was measured in 42 children with CF to represent nutritional status and expressed as a Z-score.ResultsBMI Z-score showed a value of -1.23 plus or minus 0.16 and had a similar trend in all age groups of our study. Z score value in CF patients younger than 2 years of age was significantly reduced (-1.49 plus or minus 0.31), but comparable with BMI Z-score in children older than 10 years (-1.56 plus or minus 0.33). Children with CF, aged 2-5 years and older than 5 years, presented a BMI Z score of -0.69 plus or minus 0.16 and -0.93 plus or minus 0.31, respectively, translating a good age-appropriate nutrition, but with risk for malnutrition.Weight deficit was estimated in 53.33% children included in the study. Malnutrition rate was very high in young children with CF (0-2 years) counting for 68.75% of cases. In this group 66.66% of children were primary diagnosed and the most common sign for suspecting CF was poor nutritional status. Children from other age groups reflected a similar frequency of malnutrition: 60.0%, 55.55% and 66.67% cases.ConclusionsMalnutrition was assessed in 53.33% children with CF from the Republic of Moldova with a small variation between different age groups. Poor nutritional status was identified in very young children (0-2 years) at the moment of diagnosis and in children older than 10 years, who associated lung pathology.