Original Articles
Influence factors of malnutrition risk in hospitalized children
Fengxiu Chen, Zhiwei Lin, Bin Wu
Published 2015-02-28
Cite as Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2015, 23(1): 17-22. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-635X.2015.01.004
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence factors of malnutrition risk in hospitalized children, in order to provide theoretical basis for early identifying hospitalized children at the risk of malnutrition and for guiding clinical nutritional intervention.
MethodsHospitalized children in the Department of Pediatrics of our hospital from March 1st 2013 to April 30th 2014 were included and assessed using Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP). Questionnaire survey was conducted and clinical data was recorded. The children were divided into two groups according to STAMP scores upon admission, namely high malnutrition risk group and low malnutrition risk group. Comparing the differences of basic characteristics, laboratory examinations, and treatments between the two groups, associated factors of statistical significance were detected. With the associated factors identified in single factor analysis as independent variables and STAMP score-based group division as the dependent variable, multifactor unconditional Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the independent risk factors influencing STAMP scores of hospitalized children.
ResultsA total of 1 406 hospitalized children were included, of whom 738 were at high malnutrition risk, and the other 668 were at low malnutrition risk. Single factor analysis indicated that fever before admission (Z=-3.809, P=0.000), severity of condition (χ2=14.068, P=0.000), age (χ2=5.813, P=0.017), and length of fever before admission (t=2.793, P=0.005) were associated with high malnutrition risk of hospitalized children. Non-conditional Logistic regression suggested that severity of condition (OR=1.557, 95% CI: 1.164-2.083, P=0.003), length of fever before admission (OR=1.039, 95% CI: 1.011-1.068, P=0.006), and granulocyte count (OR=1.032, 95% CI: 1.004-1.061, P=0.027) were risk factors of high malnutrition risk in hospitalized children, and age (OR=0.942, 95% CI: 0.909-0.977, P=0.001) was protective factor.
ConclusionAge, severity of condition, length of fever before admission, and granulocyte count can provide helpful information for early identification of hospitalized children at high malnutrition risk.
Key words:
Malnutrition risk; Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics; Hospitalized children; Logistic regression analysis
Contributor Information
Fengxiu Chen
Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
Zhiwei Lin
Bin Wu
