Anthropometric and Body-Composition Changes in Severely Acute Malnourished Children (12–59 Months) Post-Nutritional Rehabilitation: A Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Purpose: Malnutrition affects one in three hospitalized children and is linked to negative clinical outcomes and long-term developmental issues. Therefore, this study aimed to assess body composition indices among children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and their association with anthropometry. Methods: This observational follow-up study investigated medical complications among children with SAM (aged, 12–59 months) who were admitted to the nutrition rehabilitation centre at a tertiary care hospital in India. Data was collected at three timelines: on admission (baseline), at discharge (midline), and upon completing all five follow-up visits over a period of 12 weeks after treatment (endline). Results: Of the 130 enrolled children, 96.2% (n=125) were discharged and 73% (n=95) completed the study. The fat mass scores exhibited a consistent improvement with time, with the mean (standard deviation [SD]) rising from 0.7 (0.7) at baseline to 0.8 (0.7) and 1.4 (0.8) at the midline and endline, respectively. Similarly, the fat-free mass (FFM) scores showed steady progress, with the mean (SD) increasing from 6.2 (1.4) at baseline to 6.3 (1.5) and 6.9 (1.7) at the midline and endline, respectively. The weight-for-height also demonstrated an upward trend, with the mean (SD) increasing from −3.3 (0.0) at baseline to −2.6 (0.7) and −1.8 (0.9) at the midline and endline, respectively. Significant improvements were observed in other anthropometric and body composition parameters, except in the FFM index. Comparison of cured and non-cured children revealed better parameter values in the former than the latter. Conclusion: Integration of body composition and anthropometric measurements into routine healthcare for managing children with SAM can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce relapse rates.