MALNUTRITION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH LOW RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS AT NATIONAL LUNG HOSPITAL, VIETNAM

Aims: To determine the nutritional status and the dietary intake of inpatient children with lower respiratory infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 106 children aged under 5 years admitted to the Pediatric Department of the National Lung Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August to December 2018. Body weight, height/length were measured; nutritional status was evaluated by using World Health Organization criteria and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Dietary intake was daily recorded during the first week of hospitalization. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 30.1%,  25.7%, and 17.8%  respectively for underweight, stunting and wasting. According to the SGA, 20% of the patients were at risk for malnutrition.  From the first day to seventh day of hospitalization, the rate of chidlren given 100% of requirement had a fluctuating upward trend from 30% to 40% in energy intake and from 66% to 84% in protein intake; the rates of energy intake under 80% of requirement were from 31% to 54% in patients, while the rates of protein intake over 1.5-fold requirement were from 37% to 50% in patients. Conclusions: The study indicated the alarmingly high prevalence of malnutrition in children aged under 5 years and the contrast between under energy intake and over protein intake in the hospitalized children.