How do children with severe underweight and wasting respond to treatment? A pooled secondary data analysis to inform future intervention studies

Gloria A Odei Obeng-Amoako, Heather Stobaugh, Stephanie V Wrottesley, Tanya Khara, Paul Binns, Indi Trehan, Robert E Black, Patrick Webb, Martha Mwangome, Jeanette Bailey, Paluku Bahwere, Carmel Dolan, Erin Boyd, André Briend, Mark A Myatt, Natasha Lelijveld*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

4 Citationer (Scopus)
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Abstract

Children with weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) <-3 have a high risk of death, yet this indicator is not widely used in nutrition treatment programming. This pooled secondary data analysis of children aged 6-59 months aimed to examine the prevalence, treatment outcomes, and growth trajectories of children with WAZ <-3 versus children with WAZ ≥-3 receiving outpatient treatment for wasting and/or nutritional oedema, to inform future protocols. Binary treatment outcomes between WAZ <-3 and WAZ ≥-3 admissions were compared using logistic regression. Recovery was defined as attaining mid-upper-arm circumference ≥12.5 cm and weight-for-height z-score ≥-2, without oedema, within a period of 17 weeks of admission. Data from 24,829 children from 9 countries drawn from 13 datasets were included. 55% of wasted children had WAZ <-3. Children admitted with WAZ <-3 compared to those with WAZ ≥-3 had lower recovery rates (28.3% vs. 48.7%), higher risk of death (1.8% vs. 0.7%), and higher risk of transfer to inpatient care (6.2% vs. 3.8%). Growth trajectories showed that children with WAZ <-3 had markedly lower anthropometry at the start and end of care, however, their patterns of anthropometric gains were very similar to those with WAZ ≥-3. If moderately wasted children with WAZ <-3 were treated in therapeutic programmes alongside severely wasted children, we estimate caseloads would increase by 32%. Our findings suggest that wasted children with WAZ <-3 are an especially vulnerable group and those with moderate wasting and WAZ <-3 likely require a higher intensity of nutritional support than is currently recommended. Longer or improved treatment may be necessary, and the timeline and definition of recovery likely need review.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere13434
TidsskriftMaternal and Child Nutrition
Vol/bind19
Udgave nummer1
Antal sider12
ISSN1740-8695
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

CURIS 2023 NEXS 005
© 2022 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Emneord

  • Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet

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