Mid‐upper arm circumference in hospitalized pediatric patients with cancer: Is there an association with malnutrition?

Abstract

BackgroundMalnutrition is common in children/adolescents with cancer. Mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) is recommended by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology for measuring nutrition status. The aim was to evaluate the nutrition status of pediatric patients with cancer and verify whether MUAC is associated with malnutrition and length of stay (LOS).MethodsThis was an observational study of patients aged 0–19 years with solid and hematological neoplasms. Data included anthropometric measurements of nutrition status by body mass index/age (BMI/A), weight/age, weight/height, height/age, MUAC, mid‐arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), and biochemical measurements of characterizing inflammation (serum prealbumin level, serum albumin level, and C‐reactive protein [CRP]). Statistical tests such as the Student t test, Mann‐Whitney test, and Spearman correlation were employed to analyze the data. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.ResultsOf 111 patients, 51.7% (n = 57) were male, and solid tumors were prevalent (76.6%, n = 85). The median age was 8.5 years. The anthropometric measurements of the arm revealed a higher prevalence of malnutrition when compared with anthropometric indices. According to the Spearman correlation, a high and positive correlation was observed between MUAC and BMI/A (ρ = 0.800 and P < 0.001). There was an association between MUAC, TSF, and high CRP with LOS (P = 0.025, P = 0.003, and P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with a MUAC (less than the fifth percentile) had almost 2.73 times the chance of having a prolonged LOS.ConclusionMUAC was a good parameter for the classification of nutrition status and the assessment of LOS in pediatric patients with cancer.

Predictive value of anthropometric measurements in survival and free walking ability of geriatric hip fractures after surgery

“…The relationship between AC and nutritional status in elderly individuals has been widely studied [ 11 ]. Low AC has been associated with malnutrition, muscle wasting, and frailty in older adults [ 12 ].…”

Alterations of Nutritional Status in Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

“…Many authors emphasize the value of arm anthropometry such as MUAC and TSFT, which are considered sensitive indices independent of tumor mass, in order to avoid the underestimation of malnutrition prevalence. The first recommendations date from the late 1990s [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Although arm anthropometry, according to abundant published data, assists in undernutrition recognition during pediatric cancer treatment, some studies have failed to present sufficient evidence in favor of its use in survivorship [ 49 ].…”

Effect of skinfold thickness on arm venous access port in cancer patients

“…Studies have shown that skinfold thickness is associated with the nutritional health status of the human body. [38][39][40] Pedro et al 38 showed that triceps skinfold thickness can be used to assess nutritional status in children and adolescents with cancer and is closely related to body BMI. Wang et al 39 found a positive correlation between TSF thickness and the proportion of insulin resistance emerged and also a positive correlation with BMI by retrospective analysis.…”

“…Skinfold calipers are commonly used instruments for skinfold thickness measurement 36,37 . Studies have shown that skinfold thickness is associated with the nutritional health status of the human body 38–40 . Pedro et al 38 .…”

“… 36 , 37 Studies have shown that skinfold thickness is associated with the nutritional health status of the human body. 38 , 39 , 40 Pedro et al. 38 showed that triceps skinfold thickness can be used to assess nutritional status in children and adolescents with cancer and is closely related to body BMI.…”