Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of a group of cystic fibrosis patients and establish the role of nutrition education addressed to them in a comparative study before and after intervention.Methods: All cystic fibrosis patients in regular follow-up in the pulmonology clinic of Instituto da Criança during 1996-99 were prospectively monitored for 3.5 years. Measurements of weight, height, mid upper arm circumference, skinfolds and calculations of weight/age, height/age, weight/height, mid upper arm circumference and triceps z scores, percentage of ideal weight for height, percentage of body fat, check of the use of enzymes with meals and of the use of nutritional supplements were performed at four points in time: initial (I), 7 (II), 13 (III) and 43 (IV) months after the first evaluation. Nutritional counseling was given both verbally and in writing (booklet) to all patients.Results: Seventy-four patients, 38F/36M, age range 6 months to 18.4 years were evaluated. At study entry the anthropometric data showed: percentage of ideal weight for height = 94±13, percentage of body fat = 15±7.1, z scores for weight/age = -1.13±1.3, z scores for height/age = -0.94±1.2, z scores for weight/height = -0.69±1.1, z scores for mid upper arm circumference = -1.35±1.3, triceps z scores = -0.74±0.9. Compliance with enzyme therapy and use of high-calorie supplements improved during the study period. There was a significant increase in weight/height and triceps z scores and percentage of body fat throughout the study period. After stratifying patients into three age groups the anthropometric improvement was only significant among children under 5 years of age.
Conclusions:Mild malnutrition was present in this group of cystic fibrosis patients. The nutrition education led to an improvement in compliance with enzyme therapy, use of nutritional supplements and in nutritional status, mostly among the younger patients.
ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar o estado nutricional de um grupo de pacientes com fibrose cística e analisar a repercussão do aconselhamento nutricional através de um estudo comparativo pré-e pós-intervenção.Métodos: Todos os pacientes com fibrose cística em seguimento regular no ambulatório de pneumologia do Instituto da Criança no período de 1996-99 foram prospectivamente acompanhados durante 3,5 anos. Em quatro etapas (I = inicial, II = 7 meses, III = 13 meses, IV = 43 meses), foi realizada uma avaliação nutricional que consistia de medidas de peso, estatura/comprimento, circunferência do braço e pregas cutâneas, e cálculos de escores z para peso/idade, estatura/ idade, peso/estatura, circunferência do braço e da prega cutânea tricipital, porcentagem de peso/estatura e porcentagem de gordura corpórea. Era feita verificação do uso das enzimas pancreáticas e do uso de suplementos nutricionais. Aconselhamento nutricional verbal e através de uma cartilha explicativa foi realizado em todos os pacientes.Resultados: Foram avaliados 74 pacientes, 38 do sexo feminino e 36 do masculino, com idades de 6 meses a 18,4 an...