Strongkids scale, anthropometric and laboratory variables, and their association with complications in hospitalized pediatric patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between nutritional screening using the StrongKids scale, anthropometric variables, CRP, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values, and complications in hospitalized pediatric patients.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Dr. Roberto Gilbert E Children's Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from November 2022 to February 2023. 365 patients older than one year of age were included, and those with a hospital stay of less than 72 hours were excluded. General data were obtained, the StrongKids scale was applied upon admission, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and arm circumference) were taken, nutritional assessment was performed using weight-to-length, length-to-age, and weight-to-length ratios, and laboratory variables (total lymphocytes, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, and hematocrit), and these variables were associated with complications during hospitalization.

Results: 16.8% of the children studied had an in-hospital complication, with a higher frequency of intensive care admission. 70.1% were classified as moderate risk and 8.5% as severe risk according to the StrongKids scale. When associating laboratory variables, anthropometric variables, and StrongKids risk classification with the presence of complications using a classification tree, it was found that if the risk was moderate or severe, 19.2% presented complications, whereas if CRP values were also greater than 77.4 mmol/l, the risk of complications increased to 45.2%.

Conclusions: A high frequency of hospitalized children with moderate and severe risk of malnutrition was detected, associated with in-hospital complications.