Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) introduces a unique set of nutritional challenges for the growing and developing child. Maintenance of optimal nutrition plays a key role in the management of children with (CKD) across different stages of CKD, during dialysis and following transplantation.
AIM
To assess the nutritional status of children with CKD.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study carried out on 40 children diagnosed with stage 5 CKD of both sex attending Pediatric Nephrology Unite, University Pediatric Hospital, Upper Egypt. Their age ranged from 2-15 years. Patients were subjected to full history taking including dietary intake, full medical examination including anthropometric measurements, and laboratory investigations including complete blood picture, serum calcium, phosphorus, and serum albumin.
RESULTS
Weight was the most affected anthropometric parameter, as 80% of the patients were < 5th percentile. 72.5% of our studied children were stunted, their height was less than 5th percentile. Body mass index (BMI) was normal in only 20% of CKD children, no one was obese and 80% were undernourished. Undernutrition was significantly related to the duration of CKD, male gender, age < 5 years, and low socio-economic state.
CONCLUSION
Undernutrition is widely prevalent among children with CKD. Long duration of hemodialysis, young age at presentation, low socio-economic state, and male gender are the main risk factors that threaten the nutritional status of those children.