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Malnutrition at diagnosis of malignancy in childhood: common but mostly missed

  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

A prospective, controlled study of nutritional status in 100 newly diagnosed paediatric oncology patients is repored. Results showed that although patients' height-for-age and weight-for-height were normal, midupper arm circumference (MUAC) and tricepts skinfold thickness (TSFT) were significantly less than reference and control values. Moreover, 20% of patients had MUAC below the 5th percentile (P<0.001) and 23% had TSFT more than 2 SD below the mean (P<0.001). The discrepancy between these assessments is attributed to the effect of large tumour masses masking diminished true body weight. Children with intra-abdominal solid tumours had significantly lower MUAC and TSFT than those with either extra-abdominal solid tumours or leukaemia, and were more likely to be malnourished based on arm anthropometric criteria. Of all subjects, 44% were consuming less than 80% of their recommended daily allowance of energy at diagnosis, compared with 0% of controls (P=0.001).

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Abbreviations

AFA:

arm fat area

AMA:

arm muscle area

HFA:

height-for-age

MUAC:

mid upper arm circumference

RDA:

recommended daily allowance

TSFT:

triceps skinfold thickness

WFH:

weight for height

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    D. E. Smith & I. W. Booth

  2. Department of Oncology, The Children's Hospital, B16 8ET, Birmingham, UK

    M. C. G. Stevens

Authors
  1. D. E. Smith
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  2. M. C. G. Stevens
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  3. I. W. Booth
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Smith, D.E., Stevens, M.C.G. & Booth, I.W. Malnutrition at diagnosis of malignancy in childhood: common but mostly missed. Eur J Pediatr 150, 318–322 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955930

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955930

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