Prevalence of malnutrition, obesity and nutritional risk of Australian paediatric inpatients: A national one‐day snapshot. (15th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Melinda; Dennis, Nicole; Ramsey, Rebecca; Barwick, Katie; Graham, Christie; Kane, Sarah; Kepreotes, Helen; Queit, Leah; Sweeney, Annabel; Winderlich, Jacinta; Wong See, Denise; Littlewood, Robyn
• Is Part Of: Journal of paediatrics and child health. Volume 51:Number 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 314
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2014-08-15
• Subjects: Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1034-4810

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jpc12709-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Low prevalence rates of malnutrition at 2.5% to 4% have previously been reported in two tertiary paediatric Australian hospitals. The current study is the first to measure the prevalence of malnutrition, obesity and nutritional risk of paediatric inpatients in multiple hospitals throughout Australia.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12709-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Malnutrition, obesity and nutritional risk prevalence were investigated in 832 and 570 paediatric inpatients, respectively, in eight tertiary paediatric hospitals and eight regional hospitals across Australia on a single day. Malnutrition and obesity prevalence was determined using <italic>z</italic>‐scores and body mass index (BMI) percentiles. High nutritional risk was determined as a Paediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score of 2 or more.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12709-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The prevalence rates of malnourished, wasted, stunted, overweight and obese paediatric patients were 15%, 13.8%, 11.9%, 8.8% and 9.9%, respectively. Patients who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander were more likely to have lower height‐for‐age <italic>z</italic>‐scores (<italic>P</italic> < 0.01); however, BMI and weight‐for‐age <italic>z</italic>‐scores were not significantly different. Children who were younger, from regional hospitals or with a primary diagnosis of cardiac disease or cystic fibrosis had significantly lower anthropometric <italic>z</italic>‐scores (<italic>P</italic> = 0.05). Forty‐four per cent of patients were identified as at high nutritional risk and requiring further nutritional assessment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12709-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional risk of Australian paediatric inpatients on a given day was much higher when compared with the healthy population. In contrast, the proportion of overweight and obese patients was less.</p> </sec> </abstract>