221 Influence of nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis on disease outcome

Abstract

Objectives To establish the influence of nutritional status of children with CF, who are in critical condition, on disease outcome. Methods This is a retrospective study of children with CF admitted to the pediatric ICU of St. George University Hospital, Plovdiv, from January 2004 to June 2013. Children were admitted because of respiratory failure, heart failure or dehydration. We analyzed patients' weight, height, BMI, severity of the disease based on the Shwachman-Kulczycki score, colonization with P. aeruginosa, length of hospital stay and disease outcome. Results 23 children are included in the study – 12 boys and 11 girls. The mean age of the patients is 63.7 months (1–214 months). The main reason for admission to ICU was respiratory infection (78.3%). Two of the children had severe dehydration and one had arrhythmia. Five of the patients died in ICU (21.7%). There is a positive correlation between the nutrition deficit on one side, low Shwachman-Kulczycki score, longer hospital stay and unfavourable disease outcome on the other. Children without nutritional deficit had a significantly shorter hospital stay and higher Shwachman-Kulczycki score on admission. We did not establish a statistically significant correlation between the degree of nutritional deficit and colonization with P. aeruginosa . Conclusion Children with nutritional deficit and low Shwachman-Kulczycki score have a longer hospital stay and are at a higher risk of unfavorable disease outcome. If the nutritional deficit is diagnosed early and actively corrected, this could lead to shorter hospital stay and reduced disease severity while on ICU.