Weight-for-height Z-score improves in half of undernourished children hospitalized in surgical wards

Overall, 10–15% of hospitalized children are undernourished. The present study focuses on pediatric surgical wards. We assessed the impact of undernutrition upon admission on the weight-for-height Z-score (Z-WFH) during hospitalization for surgery. Secondary aims were to investigate the influence of associated factors and to report on the use of nutritional support. All children hospitalized for a surgical procedure between July 2015 and March 2016 were included in this monocentric, prospective study. Children were divided into two groups: whether the Z-WFH upon admission was below −2 standard deviations (undernourished) or not (not undernourished). A total of 161 of 278 eligible children were included; 27 were undernourished (17%). The change in Z-WFH during hospitalization was greater in undernourished children (0.31±0.11 vs. −0.05±0.05, P=0.005). Of undernourished children, 49% recovered a Z-WFH above −2 SD during hospitalization. There was no difference between undernourished children and not undernourished children regarding age, length of hospital stay, pre- and post-operative duration of nil per os, duration of surgical procedure, ASA score, emergency level of the surgical procedure, and enteral/parenteral nutrition. Our data suggest that the Z-WFH of undernourished children upon admission improved during hospitalization.