The effects of nutritional status and intervention on pulmonary functions in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients

Abstract

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) causes malabsorption of nutrients that exacerbate pulmonary problems. Nutritional interventions can improve pulmonary functions. We aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional intervention in CF patients with malnutrition, and to determine if there is a correlation between nutritional status and pulmonary functions. Methods: The study included 143 CF patients (67 females) with a mean 2 year follow-up time. Patients' sociodemographic data, presenting symptoms and history were recorded. Height-forage , weight-forage , weight-for-length/ height (WFL/H), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated in all patients. Patients were grouped as well nourished, mild malnutrition, moderate malnutrition, and severe malnutrition. These four groups were compared in terms of pulmonary function test results, lung infections, and the hospitalization rate. Results: Among the patients with a WFL/H or BMI z-scores that decreased, the frequency of lung infection was 74.1% and the hospitalization rate was 40.7%, versus 34% and 12.3%, respectively among the patients with a WFL/H or BMI z-scores that increased. The difference was significant (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). The difference in bacterial lung infections differed significantly between the four nutritional status groups (P = 0.002). Patients in the well-nourished group had significantly higher pulmonary function test scores than the other groups. The forced expiratory volume in the first second differed significantly between the patients with and without an increase in the WFL/H or BMI z-scores (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The appropriate nutritional intervention to pediatric CF patients with malnutrition, decrease the frequency of lung infections, and improve respiratory function.

Magnesium Status and Calcium/Magnesium Ratios in a Series of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

“…A parallel decrease in the nutritional status and respiratory function would negatively affect the prognosis and quality of life [103]. Kilinc et al reported that well-nourished patients had significantly higher lung function test scores than the other undernourished group [104]. Although in our study we did not have obese patients by BMI, there were two overweight patients (8 and 13 years) and obesity (2 and 25 years) by the waist-height index.…”

Triage for Malnutrition Risk among Pediatric and Adolescent Outpatients with Cystic Fibrosis, Using a Disease-Specific Tool

“…Most of the studies suggest that attaining a BMI below the 10th percentile (roughly corresponding to a z-score < −1.0) is indicative of malnutrition. With this in mind, published data suggest that malnutrition prevails in 12-74% of pediatric patients with CF [21][22][23][24][25][26]. Some earlier studies using the stricter cut-off of the 15th BMI percentile to identify malnutrition support similar findings, with malnutrition being diagnosed in 20-30% of pediatric patients [27][28][29][30].…”

Neonatal nutritional risk and pulmonary function

“…Previous studies on patients with cystic fibrosis mostly focused on the effects of nutritional status on lung development and pulmonary function. Kilinc et al [ 18 ] studied 143 patients with cystic fibrosis who were followed up for 2 years. They found that appropriate nutritional support could maintain or improve the respiratory function of children with cystic fibrosis.…”