Growth impairment and nutritional status in children with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition is closely linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients with poor outcome. But data on pediatric patients is inadequate. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of growth failure and malnutrition in pediatric CKD patients and explore the relationship of these parameters to each other and to other clinical parameters.

METHODS: This study included 42 patients and 29 healthy children matched for age and gender. Patients were classified firstly in age group and secondly in therapy modalities. Nutritional evaluations were performed according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines, and we performed adjustments using values from children with the same chronological age as reference.

FINDINGS: In pubertal group, the mean height SDS was lower than in pre-pubertal period while it was higher than in early childhood (P=0.4 and P=0.03 respectively). In all groups, 45% of patients had malnutrition: 20 patients on predialysis, 22 patients with end stage renal disease (14 on hemodialysis, and 8 on peritoneal dialysis). The mean weight SDS was lower in end stage renal disease groups (P<0.001). The height SDS was lower in end stage renal disease groups (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Growth failure and malnutrition remain a significant clinical problem as age and therapy modalities are dependent in children with CKD.