Assessment of Nutritional Status of Children with Beta Thalassemia Major with BMI

Abstract

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of the children with thalassemia major by WHO based BMI classification at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur.

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur from April to July 2019.

Materials and Methods: Children aged 0-215 months of either sex with Thalassemia major visiting Pediatric department/ Thalassemia unit by consecutive non probability sampling were included. Their weight and height were taken and subsequently BMI was calculated. The nutritional status for 0-59 months old children was classified  according to BMI based WHO classification for 0-59 months age group as obese, overweight, normal, moderate acute malnutrition (wasting) and severe acute malnutrition (severe wasting) while the nutritional status for 60-215 months old children was classified according to BMI based WHO classification for 5-19 years age group as obese, overweight, normal, thin and severely thin.

Results: Total 300 cases with age 0-215 months were included, out of which 164 (54%) were male. There were 140 cases in 0-59 months old group, out of which 79 (56.43%) were male. There were 77 (55%) cases in the ‘normal’ category of BMI classification, out of which 43 (54.43%) were males and 34 (55.74%) female (p value 0.8775).

There were 160 cases in 60-215 months old group, out of which 85 (53.12%) were male. There were 52 (32.5%) cases in the ‘normal’ category of BMI classification, out of which 28 (32.94) were males and 24 (32) female (p value 0.8991).

Conclusion: The under nutrition in children with thalassemia major is very common and increases with advancing age irrespective of sex.