ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE O TEMPO DE INTERNAÇÃO E A EVOLUÇÃO DO ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE CRIANÇAS INTERNADAS EM UM HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO

Abstract

Introdução Apesar de nas últimas décadas ter havido expressiva redução na prevalência de desnutrição energético-proteica (DEP) em crianças menores de cinco anos no Brasil e no mundo,¹ essa doença continua a ser um relevante problema de saúde pública no país, principalmente nas regiões Norte e Nordeste, na área rural e nos bolsões de pobreza das periferias das grandes metrópoles, com consequências graves no crescimento, desenvolvimento e sobrevida das crianças.² Cerca de 80% das crianças desnutridas residem na Ásia, 15% na África e 5% na América Latina, sendo que 43% delas (230 milhões) são desnutridas crônicas.³ Além disso, os índices de letalidade por desnutrição grave em tratamento hospitalar permanecem elevados.¹ De acordo com dados da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS), a Abstract Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized children and to identify the risks factors associated with length of hospital stay. Methods: A longitudinal study of 200 children aged 0-10 years, admitted to a university hospital from February to December 2011. Data were collected for identification, disease, anemia and length of hospital stay. To evaluate the nutritional status, the z score was used for W/A, H/A, W/H and BMI/A indicators. Statistical analysis was carried out through SPSS version 17 software, being significant p<0.05. Results: 56% were male and the average age was 53.28 ± 47.65 months. The main conditions associated with a longer length of hospital stay were the infants' age group, the diagnosis of hematologic disease, low weigh and anemia on admission. Weight maintenance during hospitalization was a factor associated to shorter length hospital stay. Conclusions: It was verified that underweight on admission, anemia and infants' age group were the determinants of a longer length of hospital stay. Then, the follow-up of nutritional status of hospitalized children was fundamental to greater understanding about the factors associated with longer hospital stay, allowing a better approach to maintenance and/or recovery of nutritional status.