Clinical Profile, Comorbidities and Anthropometric Characteristics of Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Children admitted with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are frequently affected by superimposed infections, anemia, and other complications that may complicate nutritional rehabilitation. Objective: To describe the demographic profile, major comorbidities and available anthropometric characteristics of hospitalized children with SAM. Methods: This hospital-based study utilizes the data of a prospective observational study conducted on 204 children aged 6-30 months admitted to the department of paediatrics, SSG Hospital and Medical College, Vadodara, during 2023-2024 . The study children met the study criteria for SAM, which included MUAC <115 mm, weight-for-height <−3 SD, bilateral pitting edema, or visible severe wasting, with clinical complications requiring inpatient management. Results: Out of the total 204 study children, 118 (57.84%) were male and 112 (54.9%) were aged 12-24 months. A total of 138 children (67.64%) resided in rural areas. Pneumonia was the most common comorbidity in 75 children (36.76%), followed by anemia in 61 (29.9%) and sepsis in 25 (12.25%). Diarrhea occurred in 18 (8.82%), tuberculosis in 15 (7.35%), congestive heart failure in 8 (3.9%), and HIV infection in 2 (0.98%) of the study children. MUAC <11.5 cm was found in 136 children (66.7%), and 68 (33.3%) had MUAC >11.5 cm but met the criteria for other anthropometric indicators of SAM. Microcephaly was found in 46 children (22.5%) and 158 (77.5%) were normocephalic. Conclusion: Hospitalized children with SAM mostly belonged to the 12-24 months age group and came from rural areas. The leading comorbidities were pneumonia, anemia, and sepsis, and about two-thirds of the study children had MUAC <11.5 cm and nearly a quarter had microcephaly. Early recognition and combined management of the inpatients with infection, anemia, nutritional deficiency, and other complications are essential elements of the inpatient care of children with SAM.