Association between anthropometric criteria and body composition among children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: A prospective cohort study from South Sudan

Description

Gabriele Rossi, Rachel Creighton, Patricia Ayebazibwe, and five colleagues ask whether malnutrition labels capture different children in this two thousand twenty-six cohort study. Severe acute malnutrition is diagnosed by arm circumference, weight-for-height score, or swelling, but the criteria overlap and may select different children. In Aweil, South Sudan, the team followed children aged six to fifty-nine months in outpatient treatment by arm circumference only, weight-for-height only, or both. Body composition was measured by impedance and skinfolds at admission and discharge.

One hundred ninety-four children entered; one hundred twenty-seven reached discharge. The arm and combined groups were younger and more stunted, with the combined group most depleted in fat-free mass and phase angle. During treatment the weight group recovered fastest, gaining fat-free mass, eighty-two percent of weight gained. The authors argue admission criteria mark distinct recovery paths, informing later care.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13577578