The nutritional status of hospitalized children

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Abstract
The authors assessed the nutritional status of 183 alternate admissions (excluding those to the Neonatal Service) to a pediatric teaching hospital using physical examination and anthropometric and biochemical measurements, within 24 hr of admission. Of the patients 55% were surgical and the remaining 83 patients (45%) were admitted to the medical service. In each service, patients were divided by age: 0 to 2, 3 to 11, and 12 years or older. At 14 days, we reevaluated the nutritional status of the six surgical and six medical patients who remained in hospital. Of the patients 12% were less than the 5th percentile for height and 15% for weight. Of the population 6, 7, and 7% had deficits in skin fold thickness, midarm circumference, and muscle area respectively. Subnormal anthropometric measurements were found in 20% of the study group. Twenty-three (12%) had more than one abnormal measurement, in nine of whom illness was mild and/or potentially reversible. Excessive adiposity was found in 34 (20%) of those measured, 25 of 34 (73%) were on the surgical service. The principal abnormalities in the biochemical measurements were in the folate, calcium, and phosphorus values. Folate deficiency was most prevalent in the adolescent surgical patients (29%); reduced calcium and phosphorus levels were seen most frequently in the adolescent surgical group (22%) and the 3- to 11-year-old medical group (30%). In the 12 patients who remained in hospital for 2 weeks, the only changes in nutritional status demonstrated were a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in skinfold thickness; in one medical patient, a low red blood cell folate value occurred.