Nutritional status of children with cancer: A single center experience

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to compare the initial nutritional status of children with cancer with those of the control group. We also aimed to identify the changes in nutritional status of children with cancer during the treatment. METHODS: One hundred and seventy children with cancer and 107 children representing the control group (the majority of them hospitalized due to acute infection) were enrolled in the study. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were retrospectively obtained from the records. RESULTS: There were no differences between the mean values of weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and height Z-score of the study and control groups. In addition, the rates of acute malnutrition (Relative weight <90%) and of underweight (BMI <5%) were similar in both groups. However, serum albumin levels, relative weight and weight Z-score values were significantly lower in control group than in children with cancer. The rates of underweights (weight Z-score