Study of Malnutrition in Children with Malignancies in Northern Garhwal Region

Abstract

 Background: Children with cancer are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. Adequate nutrition plays a decisive role on treatment response, quality of life, and cost of care. This study aims to find out the prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric cancer patients and assess its grade and severity. Methods: 89 patients included in this observational hospital based study. Nutritional status was assessed at the time of diagnosis then at 3rd and 6th month by different Anthropometric parameters.P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Conclusion: Out of 89 patients, 3 died. According to IAP classification prevalence of malnutrition when weight for age taken as criteria, 22.1% lies in grade I and 16.3% lies in grade II at admission , total 38.4% malnourished at admission. According to WHO 19.8% were moderately wasted at admission and 5.8% were severely wasted. When BMI taken as criteria, 15.1% falls under thinness and 16.3% falls under severe thinness, only 1.2% were obese. After post hoc analysis, there was significant difference between BMI of patients at admission versus 6months and also at 3 months versus 6 months. Prevalence as per WHO criteria at admission 25.6% decreased to 16.3% at six months.