Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2023 Nov;26(6):346-354. 10.5223/pghn.2023.26.6.346.

Utility of Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

• Ray A
• Basu S
• Kumar P

• KMID: 2548043
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2023.26.6.346

Abstract

Purpose
Approximately 30% of children with chronic liver disease (CLD) are malnourished. However, proper assessment of their nutritional status is difficult. The subjective global nutritional assessment (SGNA) is a comprehensive approach that uses nutrition-focused history and examination, followed by grading of malnourishment. We aimed to study the prevalence of malnutrition in children with CLD using the SGNA tool.
Methods
This cross-sectional observational study included patients aged <18 years with CLD. Nutritional assessments were recorded using SGNA tool. Conventional anthropometric measurements were performed and corroborated with nutritional status using SGNA tool.
Results
A total of 85 children with CLD and mean age of 62 months were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of malnourished children according to SGNA was 34%; 22% were moderately malnourished and 12% were severely malnourished. We found statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters among the three groups. A moderate degree of agreement was found between SGNA and weight-for-age (W/A) (p=0.020), midupper arm circumference (MUAC) (p<0.001), and triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF)-for-age (p=0.029). Furthermore, a fair degree of agreement was found between height-for-age (H/A) (p=0.001) and weight-for-height (W/H) (p<0.001). The sensitivity of W/A for detecting malnutrition was 93%, H/A was 90%, MUAC was 86%, and TSF was 88%. The sensitivity was much lower for W/H and body mass index for age (55% for both).
Conclusion
In our study, more than one-third of children with CLD were malnourished. Nutritional assessment using SGNA is a reliable method for evaluating nutritional status and is significantly correlated with common anthropometric measurements.

Keyword

Subjective global nutritional assessment; Malnutrition; Anthropometry; Chronic liver disease; Nutritional assessment