A B S T R A C T ObjectiveTo evaluate the frequency of malnutrition and food consumption of children with cerebral palsy according to the age at the beginning of speech and hearing rehabilitation treatment.
MethodsTwo to eleven-year-old children diagnosed with cerebral palsy who had up to three months of speech-language and nutritional rehabilitation were included in two reference centers in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. measurement of the children were taken: weight, knee height, arm circumference and triceps skinfold. Weight, estimated height and body mass index were classified into Z-scores according to the World Health Organization curves. Brachial circumference, triceps skinfold and arm circumference were classified according to Frisancho. The 24-hour recall was used to calculate intake of calories, proteins, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and zinc using the NutriWin software.
ResultsA total of 68 patients were evaluated. Children older than five had a higher frequency of malnutrition when weight (p=0.02) and arm circumference (p<0.001) were considered, although there was less triceps malnutrition (p=0.002). These also had lower calorie consumption per kg/day, protein/kg/day and calcium than the younger children.
ConclusionThe greatest nutritional impairment after the age of five suggests that nutritional and speech therapy interventions could have a greater effect if they were performed before that age.Keywords: Cerebral palsy. Child. Eating behavior. Food consumption. Malnutrition.
R E S U M O
Objetivo
Avaliar frequência da desnutrição e consumo alimentar de crianças com paralisia cerebral de acordo com a idade do início do tratamento de reabilitação fonoaudiológica e nutricional.
Métodos
Foram incluídas crianças de 2 a 11 anos com diagnóstico de paralisia cerebral e que tinham até três meses de reabilitação fonoaudiológica e nutricional em dois centros de referência em
I N T R O D U C T I O NCerebral palsy, the most common cause of physical disability in children, is characterized by permanent disorders of posture and movement [1] and it affects between 2-2.5 per thousand live births worldwide [2]. Cerebral palsy is not progressive, however, due to its motor sequelae and eating difficulties, these children can develop nutritional impairments that prevent early brain development and plasticity [3], leading to impaired health conditions, quality of life and cognitive performance [4].Malnutrition in cerebral palsy is multifactorial. In addition to the nutritional status, other factors such as primary neurological damage, which interferes with muscle constitution, endocrinological factors, immobility and caregiving demands, and overall health conditions may interfere in