PICU Evaluation of the nutritional status of children with sepsis admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU)

Introduction: The nutritional status of patients plays an important role in prognosis and clinical outcomes, as malnutrition prolongs hospitalization, increases complications, and even mortality. Timely nutritional assessment and implementation of appropriate interventions not only improve quality of life but also reduce healthcare costs. This is of greater importance in the PICU, as sepsis is one of the most common causes of hospitalization and mortality in children, and simultaneous attention to infection control and nutritional management can have a significant impact on improving outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Akbar Children's Hospital in Mashhad from ۲۰۲۳ to ۲۰۲۴. Those who met sepsis criteria were included in the study. The weight-for-height z-score (World Health Organization (WHO) Global Database) was applied for the assessment of the patients' nutritional status upon admission to PICU. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS version ۲۲ software. Results: The number of ۵۴ people included includes ۲۹ boys and ۲۵ girls. Thirty-seven of the ۵۴ children were in a normal state, ۱۰ were in a state of moderate malnutrition, and ۷ were in a state of severe malnutrition. The majority of the study population had a normal nutritional status. Conclusion: The majority of hospitalized children had a normal nutritional status; however, specific local nutritional interventions are needed for the remainder, to inform decision-making. Local evidence-based protocols were used to guide more effective interventions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Critical illness ، Pediatric Intensive care unit ، Nutrition assessment ، Nutrition support ، nutritional adequacy