Pawellek Ingrid, Dokoupil Katharina, Koletzko Berthold
Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich, Lindwurmstrasse 4, D-80337 München, Germany.
Clin Nutr. 2008 Feb;27(1):72-6. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2007.11.001. Epub 2007 Dec 20.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Childhood malnutrition has severe adverse effects on growth and development, but only limited information is available on the prevalence of malnutrition in paediatric hospital patients. We determined the prevalence of malnutrition in a series of unselected patients consecutively admitted as inpatients to a large tertiary care children's hospital in Germany.
Data for weight and height upon admission were recorded in 475 unselected children aged 7.9+/-5 years (mean+/-SD). Weight for height 81-90 of median values were considered to indicate mild malnutrition, 70-80% moderate malnutrition and <70% severe malnutrition according to cut-off points defined by Waterlow.
Some 24.1% of the patients were malnourished, with 17.7% of all patients who were mildly, 4.4% who were moderately and 1.7% who were severely malnourished. The largest proportion of malnourished patients was found among patients with multiple diagnoses (42.8% malnourished), mental retardation (40.0%), infectious diseases (34.5%) and cystic fibrosis (33.3%).
The very high prevalence of malnutrition among children admitted to a children's hospital is considered intolerable, given the adverse consequences for short- and long-term health and well-being. Strategies for systematic screening and treatment of malnutrition in paediatric patients need to be refined and implemented.
儿童营养不良对生长发育有严重不良影响，但关于儿科住院患者营养不良患病率的信息有限。我们确定了德国一家大型三级儿童专科医院连续收治的一系列未经挑选的住院患者中营养不良的患病率。
记录了475名年龄为7.9±5岁（平均±标准差）的未经挑选儿童入院时的体重和身高数据。根据沃特洛定义的切点，身高别体重为中位数的81 - 90%被认为表示轻度营养不良，70 - 80%为中度营养不良，<70%为重度营养不良。
约24.1%的患者营养不良，其中17.7%为轻度营养不良，4.4%为中度营养不良，1.7%为重度营养不良。营养不良患者比例最高的是患有多种诊断的患者（42.8%营养不良）、智力障碍患者（40.0%）、传染病患者（34.5%）和囊性纤维化患者（33.3%）。
鉴于对儿童短期和长期健康及福祉的不良后果，儿童医院收治的儿童中极高的营养不良患病率令人无法容忍。需要完善并实施针对儿科患者营养不良的系统筛查和治疗策略。
