| Cerebral Palsy Articles Malnutrition a Common Problem in Children with Cerebral Palsy New research from the University of California, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery suggests that malnutrition is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. A report based on the research, “Body mass index in ambulatory cerebral palsy patients,” was published recently in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics*. The report states that although malnutrition is often recognized in patients with severe cerebral palsy, it can be unrecognized in less severely affected patients. The purpose of this study was to determine which patients in an ambulatory cerebral palsy patient population were at risk for low body mass index—a common marker for malnutrition. The serious consequences of malnutrition include decreased muscle strength, poor immune status, and depressed cerebral functioning. Seventy-five patients—38 boys and 37 girls with an average age of 8.11 years—were included in the study. Unique to the patient population, all were independent ambulators. A retrospective chart review was performed on the subjects, including age, sex, height, weight, type of cerebral palsy, and functional status [gross motor functional classification system (GMFCS) level]. Descriptive statistics with bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. According to the report, patients with quadriplegic cerebral palsy had a significantly lower body mass index than those with diplegic and hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Patients with a GMFCS III had significantly lower body mass index than those with GMFCS I and II. When multivariate regression analysis to control for age and sex was performed, low body mass index remained associated with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and GMFCS III. “Malnutrition is a common health problem in patients with cerebral palsy, leading to significant morbidity in multiple organ systems,” concluded B.T. Feeley, one of the report authors. “We found that in an ambulatory cerebral palsy population, patients with lower functional status or quadriplegia had significantly lower body mass index, suggesting that even highly functioning ambulatory cerebral palsy patients are at risk for malnutrition.” For additional information, contact B.T. Feeley, University of California, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California USA. * Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2007; 16(3): 165-9 The publisher of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621. |
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