Children with Cancer: Measurements of Nutritional Status at Diagnosis

Abstract

We reviewed anthropometric data from 133 consecutive children diagnosed with cancer at our institution over the past 2 years. Complete information was obtained in 127 cases. Using these data, body mass index (BMI) and weight for height (WT/HT), WT/HT percentile, WT/HT percent for median, weight for age (WT/AGE), WT/AGE percentile, WT/AGE percent of median, height for age (HT/AGE), HT/AGE percentile and HT/AGE percent of median, BMI and WT/HT z scores were calculated. The present study could be interpreted as demonstrating an overall malnutrition incidence ranging between 1% (WT/HT z score < −2.0) and 46% (WT/HT percentile < 50). Despite reports of malnutrition being more common in children with solid vs hematological malignancies, only in the 5‐ to 10‐year age group was a significant difference between hematological malignancies and solid tumors demonstrated using WT/HT or BMI z scores. In summary, the definitions of malnutrition in children with cancer based on anthropometric measurements vary widely. WT/HT z score for ages 0 to 5 years and the BMI z score for ages 10 to 18 years are the preferred indices. For ages 5 to 10 years, either z score may be used. Presented in part at the 23rd Clinical Congress of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in January 1999 in San Diego, California.