Assessment of Nutritional Status and Malnutrition in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and malnutrition in children with cystic fibrosis. Subjects and Methods: A total of 166 patients with cystic fibrosis, aged 2-20 years were evaluated. A 24-hour dietary recall was calculated using BEBIS 7.2 programme, weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), weight for height (WHZ) and body mass index z scores (BMIZ) were evaluated using WHO Anthro and Anthro Plus programmes. Results: Out of total, 10.1% of patients were underweight (WAZ ≤-2SD), 21.0% of the patients were stunted (HAZ ≤2SD). 25.3% of the patients were on oral foods, 74.7% were on both oral foods and oral enteral feeds. 41% of the patients skipped the morning meal, the most skipped meal for all age groups was morning meal. When oral foods and enteral feeds were evaluated together, it was found that meeting the percentage of recommended dietay allowances (RDA) for energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat intakes were 67%, 69.5%, 68.2% and 68.9%, respectively (below the recommended level). Vitamin A, E and K intakes of 98.1%, 100%, and 82.3% of the patients were insufficient, respectively. It was found that 81%, 55.4% and 50.6% of the patients had insufficient dietary folic acid, niacin and vitamin C intakes. It was also seen that 66.4% of calcium intake, 44.5% of zinc intake and 13.4% of iron intake were inadequate. In addition, the standard of care of a physician or dietitian except it was found that 25.4% of patients using nutritional supplements or products without the advice. The most widely used feed supplement of omega-3 syrup (9.0%) were found to be. Conclusion: In patients with cystic fibrosis, malabsorption, energy imbalance, increased metabolic rate, are risks of malnutrition.