1044 The Nutritional Profile of Children Admitted in a Digestive Endoscopy Unit: A 3-Year Study

Abstract

Background and aims: Nowadays numerous studies demonstrate unexpected modifications of nutritional deficiencies in children. This study aimed at determining the nutritional profile in symptomatic children submitted for the first upper endoscopy (EGD) in our unit during the last 3 years (2007 - 2009).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 232 consecutive symptomatic children (149 girls, age range 2-18 years). Socioeconomic status, dietary and clinical data were analyzed. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI) for age and sex were recorded according to growth charts (CDC, 2000). H pylori was confirmed by urease test and histological examination.

Results: The nutritional status of the patients had the following repartition: 60 children (25,86%) were underweight (BMI less than 5th percentile), 130 (56,03%) had healthy weight, 27 (11,63%) were at risk of becoming overweight and 15 children (6,46%) were overweight (BMI greater than the 95th percentile). Of the 232 patients, 166 (71,55%) had documented H pylori infection. This was inversely correlated with socioeconomic status (p< 0,005) and was mostly associated with normal nutritional status (57,22%) compared with undernutrition and overnutrition (19,87% and 22,89%, respectively).

Conclusions: This endoscopic series shows a high prevalence rate of both undernutrition (26,86%) and overnutrition (18,09%) in children with abdominal complaints. Unexpectedly, the overnutrition was observed in a higher proportion in H pylori infected children.

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