The Effect of Nutritional Consultation on the Level of Malnutrition and Growth Indices in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Dara, Naghi; Imanzadeh, Farid; Madani, Seyed Ramin; Tajalli, Saleheh; Rohani, Pejman; Hosseini, Amirhossein; Ashtigoo, Parastoo; Hatefi, Sayeh; Fazeli Farsani, Zahra; Hajipour, Mahmoud; Khatami, Katayoun; Sayyari, Ali Akbar; Olang, Beheshteh

doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.44424.3680

The Effect of Nutritional Consultation on the Level of Malnutrition and Growth Indices in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Authors

¹ Pediatric Gastroentrology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.

² Kashan University of Medical sciences, Kashan, Iran.

³ Student Research Committee. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ Pediatric Surgery Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

⁵ Student Research Committee, Epidemiology Department, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

⁶ Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Pediatric Gastroentrology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.22038/ijp.2020.44424.3680

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is one of the most common disorders among children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nutritional consultation on the type and severity of malnutrition in children with CF.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 78 children with CF referred to Mofid Pediatric Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2017-2018. Their parents filled the demographic questionnaire. Participants with malnutrition were undergoing the assessment on growth indices, including weight, height, ideal body weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and Z-score. Moreover, the nutritional consultations were considered for them (30-45 minutes). Children and their parents were consulted and trained about total daily calorie acquirement, type, number of the meal, amount of food intake, drinks, and avoided eating of any low-calorie food like snacks, during the consultation. All patients were reassessed three months later for growth indices. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0.
Results: We assessed 78 children with CF, 21 (26%) of them had mild, 26 (34%) moderate malnutrition, and 31 (40%) severe malnutrition. The result showed that nutritional intervention was effective. Consequently, 1 (3.8%) of the moderately malnourished child was improved to mild malnutrition and 5 (27.8%) children under five years old were improved from severe to moderate malnutrition. Moreover, 1 (5.6%) child were improved from severe to mild, and 2 (15.4%) of children over five years old were improved from severe to moderate malnutrition.
Conclusion: According to the results, the early growth assessment in hospitalized and outpatient, diagnosis of malnutrition and nutritional interventionwill be useful in improving the severity of malnutrition and growth indices in children with CF.

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