Impact of Nutritional Status of Children Admitted in PICU on Mortality and Morbidity

Abstract

Objectives: Anthropometry is a routine and simple procedure to assess the nutritional status of a child. We aimed to study the impact nutritional status has on the mortality and morbidity of children admitted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective observational study to assess the relation between anthropometric measurements of children on admission in PICU and their outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidities (total stay in PICU, duration of mechanical ventilation, requirement of inotrope, delay in enteral nutrition, and total duration of enteral feeding). Results: Sixty children were included out of which 45 were under 5 years of age and 15 were more than 5 years of age. Children under 5 years with normal weight for age, weight for height, and mid-upper arm circumference had higher chances of survival. Similarly, in children >5 years of age, those with weight for age and body mass index for age in 25th–50th percentile had higher chances of survival. All these associations were statistically significant. On further analysis, these anthropometric measurements that affected mortality also influenced morbidities significantly. Conclusion: Children with inadequate nutritional status as assessed by anthropometry had statistically significant higher mortality and morbidity in the PICU. Thus nutritional status of a child on admission is an important factor to prognosticate the outcome of a child in PICU.