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Ngaboyeka G, Bisimwa G, Neven A, Mwene-Batu P, Kambale R, Kingwayi PP, Chiribagula C, Battisti O, Dramaix M, Donnen P. Association between diagnostic criteria for severe acute malnutrition and hospital mortality in children aged 6-59 months in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: the Lwiro cohort study. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1075800. [PMID: 37293673 PMCID: PMC10246449 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1075800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Few studies have assessed the relationship between weight-for-height (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) with hospital mortality considering confounders. The particularity of MUAC for age (MUACZ) is less documented. Objective This study aims to investigate this relationship in a region endemic for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Methods This is a retrospective cohort based on a database of children admitted from 1987 to 2008 in South Kivu, eastern DRC. Our outcome was hospital mortality. To estimate the strength of the association between mortality and nutritional indices, the relative risk (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. In addition to univariate analyses, we constructed multivariate models from binomial regression. Results A total of 9,969 children aged 6 to 59 months were selected with a median age of 23 months. 40.9% had SAM (according to the criteria WHZ < -3 and/or MUAC<115 mm and/or the presence of nutritional edema) including 30.2% with nutritional edema and 35.2% had both SAM and chronic malnutrition. The overall hospital mortality was 8.0% and was higher at the beginning of data collection (17.9% in 1987). In univariate analyses, children with a WHZ < -3 had a risk almost 3 times higher of dying than children without SAM. WHZ was more associated with in-hospital mortality than MUAC or MUACZ. Multivariate models confirmed the univariate results. The risk of death was also increased by the presence of edema. Conclusion In our study, WHZ was the indicator more associated with hospital death compared with MUAC or MUACZ. As such, we recommend that all criteria shall continue to be used for admission to therapeutic SAM programs. Efforts should be encouraged to find simple tools allowing the community to accurately measure WHZ and MUACZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaylord Ngaboyeka
- Ecole Régionale de Santé Publique, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Nutritional Department, Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, Lwiro, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Ghislain Bisimwa
- Ecole Régionale de Santé Publique, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Nutritional Department, Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, Lwiro, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Anouk Neven
- Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Competence Center for Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Pacifique Mwene-Batu
- Ecole Régionale de Santé Publique, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Hôpital Provincial General de Reference de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kaziba, Kaziba, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Richard Kambale
- Hôpital Provincial General de Reference de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | - Christian Chiribagula
- Ecole Régionale de Santé Publique, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Oreste Battisti
- Hôpital Provincial General de Reference de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de médecine, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Michèle Dramaix
- Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Donnen
- Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Carvalho RM, Ferreira IMDESR, Miranda Jr F. Protein malnutrition during lactation affects thoracic aortic tunica media thickness in Wistar rat pups. Acta Cir Bras 2021; 36:e361008. [PMID: 34852134 PMCID: PMC8650804 DOI: 10.1590/acb361008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the morphological effects of a low-protein diet during maternal lactation on the offspring's thoracic aorta. METHODS Two female Wistar rats were mated with male of the same species at 4 months of age. Until the birth of the pups, all animals received commercial rat chow. After giving birth, the puerperal females were divided into two groups and adjusted the litter to five puppies per group: a control group that received commercial feed, and an experimental group whose diet included the same amount of calories, but 8% lower protein content. All animals' masses were measured throughout the lactation period, and the pups were euthanized after weaning at 21 days of age. The thoracic aorta was removed, histologically processed and stained with Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin for histomorphometric analysis of tunica media thickness. RESULTS Although both groups were born with similar body mass, during the 21 days of lactation the restricted protein group gained only 39% of the body mass of the control group. Histomorphometric analysis revealed that the restricted protein group had a significantly lower mean tunica media thickness than the control group. CONCLUSIONS A low-protein diet for nursing mothers influences mass gain and aortic tunica media thickness in their offspring.
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Hiruy AF, Xiong Q, Jin Q, Zhao J, Lin X, He S, Abebe A, Zuo X, Ying C. The Association of Feeding Practices and Sociodemographic Factors on Underweight and Wasting in Children in Ethiopia: A Secondary Analysis of Four Health Surveys from 2000 to 2016. J Trop Pediatr 2021; 67:6358692. [PMID: 34450644 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Feeding practices highly influence the nutritional status of children between 6 and 23 months of age in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting of children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia. METHODS Data on 8003 children 6-23 months of age from four Ethiopia demographic and health surveys (EDHS) from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed using complex sample crosstabs for multivariate analysis. The association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting was assessed via multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting the covariates. The outcomes were reported based on the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever, and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Also, minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting (p < 0.001). Higher age of the child was significantly associated with underweight (p < 0.05-0.001); however, it was less likely wasted (p < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSION The present study depicted that among infant young children feeding core indicators except breastfed, all the other indicators did not met the required standard; however, sociodemographic factors on four health surveys from 2000 to 2016 were associated with underweight and wasting in children in Ethiopia. LAY SUMMARY • Over the years the prevalence of underweight in children aged 6-23 months in the country has shown a significant improvement from 40.2% in 2000 to 34.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 28.9% and 20.0% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• In the same manner, the prevalence of wasting in children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia also observed improvement from 18.9% in 2000 to 16.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 15.4% and 13.9% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever (for the last 2 weeks), and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting.• Minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting.• Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting.• Higher age of the children was significantly associated with underweight; however, less likely wasted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aschalew Fikru Hiruy
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Qianqian Xiong
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Qiman Jin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xuechun Lin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shuiqing He
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Anissa Abebe
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xuezhi Zuo
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Chenjiang Ying
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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Liu Z, Fan Y, Ashorn P, Cheung YB, Hallamaa L, Hyöty H, Maleta K, Lehto K, Oikarinen S, Parkkila S, Ashorn U. Faecal regenerating 1B protein concentration is not associated with child growth in rural Malawi. J Paediatr Child Health 2021; 57:388-394. [PMID: 33112481 PMCID: PMC8048694 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.15231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study was designed to determine whether faecal regenerating 1B protein (REG1B) concentration is associated with physical growth among 6-30-month-old children in rural Malawi. METHODS This was a secondary analysis from a randomised controlled trial in rural Malawi in which we followed-up 790 live-born infants from birth to 30 months of age. We collected anthropometric data at the age of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months. We measured faecal REG1B concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique using stool samples collected at 6, 18 and 30 months of age. We assessed the association between faecal REG1B concentration and children's physical growth using linear regression and longitudinal data analysis. RESULTS Of 790 live-born infants enrolled, 694 (87%) with at least one faecal REG1B concentration measurement were included in the analysis. Faecal REG1B concentration was not associated with the children's concurrent length-for-age z-score (LAZ), weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) and mid-upper arm circumference-for-age z-score (MUACZ) at any time point (P > 0.05), nor with a change in their anthropometric indices in the subsequent 6-month period (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Faecal REG1B concentration is not associated with LAZ, WAZ, WLZ and MUACZ among 6-30-month-old infants and children in rural Malawi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Liu
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Yue‐Mei Fan
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Per Ashorn
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland,Department of PaediatricsTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Yin Bun Cheung
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland,Program in Health Services and Systems Research and Center for Quantitative MedicineDuke‐NUS Medical SchoolSingaporeSingapore
| | - Lotta Hallamaa
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Heikki Hyöty
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland,Fimlab LtdTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Kenneth Maleta
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, College of MedicineUniversity of MalawiZombaMalawi
| | - Kirsi‐Maarit Lehto
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Seppo Parkkila
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland,Fimlab LtdTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Ulla Ashorn
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
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Bergmans RS, Nikodemova M, Stull VJ, Rapp A, Malecki KMC. Comparison of cricket diet with peanut-based and milk-based diets in the recovery from protein malnutrition in mice and the impact on growth, metabolism and immune function. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234559. [PMID: 32525953 PMCID: PMC7289377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Some evidence suggests that edible insects could be used to treat malnutrition following protein deficiency. However, additional studies are needed to better assess the potential of edible insects as a therapeutic food supplement and their long-term impact on recovery from malnutrition. The goals of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of a cricket-based diet in recovery from protein-malnutrition in early life, and to compare cricket protein to more traditional sources used for food fortification and supplementation. Protein-malnutrition was induced by administration of an isocaloric hypoprotein diet (5% protein calories) in young male mice for two weeks during puberty, followed by a six-week recovery period using a cricket-, peanut- or milk-based diet. We examined the impact of protein-malnutrition and subsequent recovery on body weight, growth and select biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism. Protein-malnutrition resulted in growth retardation, downregulation of inflammatory markers in spleen tissue, decreased levels of serum triglycerides, and elevated serum levels of leptin and adiponectin. The cricket-based diet performed equally well as the peanut- and milk-based diets in body weight recovery, but there were differences in immune and metabolic markers among the different recovery diets. Results suggest edible crickets may provide an alternative nutrient-dense protein source with relatively low environmental demands for combating the effects of early-life malnutrition compared to more traditional supplementation and fortification sources. Additional investigations are needed to examine the short and long term impacts of different recovery diets on metabolism and immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Bergmans
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Maria Nikodemova
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Valerie J. Stull
- Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ashley Rapp
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Kristen M. C. Malecki
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Gavhi F, Kuonza L, Musekiwa A, Motaze NV. Factors associated with mortality in children under five years old hospitalized for Severe Acute Malnutrition in Limpopo province, South Africa, 2014-2018: A cross-sectional analytic study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232838. [PMID: 32384106 PMCID: PMC7209205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In South Africa, 30.9% of children under five years with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) died in 2018. We aimed to identify factors associated with mortality among children under five years hospitalized with SAM in Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study including children under five years admitted with SAM from 2014 to 2018 in public hospitals of Limpopo province. We extracted socio-demographic and clinical data from hospital records. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with mortality. Findings We included 956 children, 50.2% (480/956) male and 49.8% (476/956) female. The median age was 13 months (inter quartile range: 9–19 months). The overall SAM mortality over the study period was 25.9% (248/956). The most common complications were diarrhea, 63.8% (610/956), and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), 42.4% (405/956). Factors associated with mortality included herbal medication use (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 2.2, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.4–3.5, p = 0.001), poor appetite (aOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.2, p = 0.003), Mid-upper circumference (MUAC) <11.5 cm (aOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.9–4.7, p<0.001), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2–2.0, p<0.001), anemia (aOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1–5.3, p = 0.021), hypoglycemia (aOR: 12.4, 95% CI: 7.1–21.8, p<0.001) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (aOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.6–3.3, p<0.001). Interpretation Herbal medication use, poor appetite, LRTIs, anemia, hypoglycemia, and HIV infection were associated with mortality among children with SAM. These factors should guide management of children with SAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fhatuwani Gavhi
- Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Lazarus Kuonza
- Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Alfred Musekiwa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Nkengafac Villyen Motaze
- Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Grellety E, Golden MH. Severely malnourished children with a low weight-for-height have similar mortality to those with a low mid-upper-arm-circumference: II. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Nutr J 2018; 17:80. [PMID: 30217196 PMCID: PMC6138903 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-018-0383-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WHO recommended criteria for diagnosis of sever acute malnutrition (SAM) are weight-for-height/length Z-score (WHZ) of <- 3Z of the WHO2006 standards, a mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) of < 115 mm, nutritional oedema or any combination of these parameters. A move to eliminate WHZ as a diagnostic criterion has been made on the assertion that children with a low WHZ are healthy, that MUAC is a "superior" prognostic indicator of mortality and that adding WHZ to the assessment does not improve the prediction of death. Our objective was to examine the literature comparing the risk of death of SAM children admitted by WHZ or MUAC criteria. METHODS We conducted a systematic search for reports which examined the relationship of WHZ and MUAC to mortality for children less than 60 months. The WHZ, MUAC, outcome and programmatic variables were abstracted from the reports and examined. Individual study's case fatality rates were compared by chi-squared analysis and random effects meta-analyses for combined data. RESULTS Twenty-one datasets were reviewed. All the patient studies had an ascertainment bias. Most were inadequate because they had insufficient deaths, used obsolete standards, combined oedematous and non-oedematous subjects, did not report the proportion of children with both deficits or the deaths occurred remotely after anthropometry. The meta-analyses showed that the mortality risks for children who have SAM by MUAC < 115 mm only and those with SAM by WHZ < -3Z only are not different. CONCLUSIONS As the diagnostic criteria identify different children, this analysis does not support the abandonment of WHZ as an important independent diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of SAM. Failure to identify such children will result in their being denied treatment and unnecessary deaths from SAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Grellety
- Research Center Health Policy and Systems - International Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.
| | - Michael H Golden
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
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Grellety E, Golden MH. Severely malnourished children with a low weight-for-height have a higher mortality than those with a low mid-upper-arm-circumference: I. Empirical data demonstrates Simpson's paradox. Nutr J 2018; 17:79. [PMID: 30217205 PMCID: PMC6138885 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-018-0384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to WHO childhood severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is diagnosed when the weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) is <-3Z of the WHO2006 standards, the mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) is < 115 mm, there is nutritional oedema or any combination of these parameters. Recently there has been a move to eliminate WHZ as a diagnostic criterion on the assertion that children meeting the WHZ criterion are healthy, that MUAC is universally a superior prognostic indicator of mortality and that adding WHZ to the assessment does not improve the prediction; these assertions have lead to a controversy concerning the role of WHZ in the diagnosis of SAM. METHODS We examined the mortality experience of 76,887 6-60 month old severely malnourished children admitted for treatment to in-patient, out-patient or supplementary feeding facilities in 18 African countries, of whom 3588 died. They were divided into 7 different diagnostic categories for analysis of mortality rates by comparison of case fatality rates, relative risk of death and meta-analysis of the difference between children admitted using MUAC and WHZ criteria. RESULTS The mortality rate was higher in those children fulfilling the WHO2006 WHZ criterion than the MUAC criterion. This was the case for younger as well as older children and in all regions except for marasmic children in East Africa. Those fulfilling both criteria had a higher mortality. Nutritional oedema increased the risk of death. Having oedema and a low WHZ dramatically increased the mortality rate whereas addition of the MUAC criterion to either oedema-alone or oedema plus a low WHZ did not further increase the mortality rate. The data were subject to extreme confounding giving Simpson's paradox, which reversed the apparent mortality rates when children fulfilling both WHZ and MUAC criteria were included in the estimation of the risk of death of those fulfilling either the WHZ or MUAC criteria alone. CONCLUSIONS Children with a low WHZ, but a MUAC above the SAM cut-off point are at high risk of death. Simpson's paradox due to confounding from oedema and mathematical coupling may make previous statistical analyses which failed to distinguish the diagnostic groups an unreliable guide to policy. WHZ needs to be retained as an independent criterion for diagnosis of SAM and methods found to identify those children with a low WHZ, but not a low MUAC, in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Grellety
- Research Center Health Policy and Systems - International Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Michael H. Golden
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
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