Paediatria Croatica, Vol. 62 No. 2, 2018.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.13112/PC.2018.10
Prevalence of malnutrition and energy intake in hospitalized children
Marinela Mamić
orcid.org/0000-0003-4308-1667
; Klinika za dječje bolesti Zagreb
Petra Kučan
Diana Vukman
Tena Niseteo
Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to report the seven-year prevalence of malnutrition in a tertiary children’s hospital and to
assess the diff erence between recommendations and actual intake in paediatric inpatients. The study included 606 patients, age
range from 0 months to 18 years, admitted to the Children’s Hospital Zagreb. Energy intake by all routes was assessed and compared
with daily requirements recommended by the Croatian nutritional standard for hospital diets. Weight and height were measured,
and body mass index (BMI) with standard deviation (SD) was calculated. Malnutrition was defi ned using the World Health Organization
(WHO) cut-off BMI Z-score SD as the most widely used criteria. Overall, 28.6% of the study population were malnourished,
including 19.7% of overweight and obese patients, 8.9% of undernourished patients and 6.9% of stunted patients. Study results
showed that 37% of all study patients had an average daily energy intake between 60% and 90%, and 33% above 90% of the recommended
values. In conclusion, the prevalence of malnutrition, including undernutrition and overnutrition, in hospitalized children in
Croatia is similar to that in Europe. It is of great importance to identify the children at risk at an early stage, so that appropriate
nutritional intervention can be introduced. A simple nutritional screening tool should be implemented and used in all children
admitted to the hospital. Key elements in improving dietary intake are a combination of screening, appropriate nutritional assessment,
further patient monitoring, and improving the hospital menu.
Keywords
malnutrition; prevalence; energy intake; hospitalized children
Hrčak ID:
216949
URI
Publication date:
25.6.2018.
Visits: 1.673 *