ABSTRACT 191

Abstract

Background and aims: Sepsis/severe sepsis is a common disease and the most common cause of death in PICU. The nutritional situation of children is closely related to outcomes. Early study showed critical ill children could suffer iron and zinc reduction, but their relationship with prognosis is not clear. Aims: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and change of trace elements (copper, iron, zinc) of sepsis/severe sepsis children who are hospitalized in PICU and describe their relationship to outcomes. Methods: Prospective, observational study at PICU of Beijing Children’s Hospital from November 2012 to April 2013. Z-score evaluation was used to assess children’s nutrition status. Flame atomic absorption spectrometric method was used to determine the contents of copper, zinc and iron in children’s peripheral blood. The approval of this study by the Institutional Review Board had been gotten. Results: 78 children with median age 13 (6.9, 39) months were enrolled. Prevalence of malnutrition was 38.5% (30/78),the percentage of underlying diseases and the mortality on discharge were 66.7% vs 33.3% (P=0.006) and 10.0% vs 2.6% (P=0.429).75.6% (59/78) children had lower iron level in peripheral blood, 22 (28.2%) for zinc, but no significant differences between malnutrition and normal nutrition group. Conclusions: The prevalence of malnutritionin PICU sepsis/severe sepsis children is higher than general critical ill children. Children with malnutrition have significantly higher percentage of underlying diseases, and lower iron and zinc level in peripheral blood. There are no significant differences in iron, zinc, copper level between malnutrition group and normal nutrition group.