Phenotype is sustained during hospital readmissions following treatment for complicated severe malnutrition among Kenyan children

A retrospective cohort study

Bibliographic Data

ID15536804
AuthorsGerard Bryan Gonzales (0000-0001-6614-3520, Ghent University Hospital, corresponding author), Moses M Ngari (0000-0001-7149-5491, Kenya Medical Research Institute), James M Njunge (0000-0002-8524-9133, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Johnstone Thitiri (0000-0002-5901-6651, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Laura Mwalekwa (0000-0001-8207-4967, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Neema Mturi (0000-0002-6585-2074, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Martha Mwangome (0000-0003-4806-1307, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Caroline Ogwang (0000-0003-2689-9459, The Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition Network), Amek Nyaguara (0000-0002-7865-8756, The Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition Network), James A Berkley (0000-0002-1236-849X, Angkor Hospital for Children)
Year2019
Volume16
Issue2
Pagese12913-e12913
Publication date2019-11-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12913
PMID31756291
OpenAlexW2991525330
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited35

Hospital readmission is common among children with complicated severe acute malnutrition (cSAM) but not well-characterised. Two distinct cSAM phenotypes, marasmus and kwashiorkor, exist, but their pathophysiology and whether the same phenotype persists at relapse are unclear. We aimed to test the association between cSAM phenotype at index admission and readmission following recovery. We performed secondary data analysis from a multicentre randomised trial in Kenya with 1-year active follow-up. The main outcome was cSAM phenotype upon hospital readmission. Among 1,704 HIV-negative children with cSAM discharged in the trial, 177 children contributed a total of 246 readmissions with cSAM. cSAM readmission was associated with age<12 months (p = .005), but not site, sex, season, nor cSAM phenotype. Of these, 42 children contributed 44 readmissions with cSAM that occurred after a monthly visit when SAM was confirmed absent (cSAM relapse). cSAM phenotype was sustained during cSAM relapse. The adjusted odds ratio for presenting with kwashiorkor during readmission after kwashiorkor at index admission was 39.3 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) [2.69, 1,326]; p = .01); and for presenting with marasmus during readmission after kwashiorkor at index admission was 0.02 (95% CI [0.001, 0.037]; p = .01). To validate this finding, we examined readmissions to Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya occurring at least 2 months after an admission with cSAM. Among 2,412 children with cSAM discharged alive, there were 206 readmissions with cSAM. Their phenotype at readmission was significantly influenced by their phenotype at index admission (p < .001). This is the first report describing the phenotype and rate of cSAM recurrence

Cohort · Confidence interval · Kwashiorkor · Malnutrition · Marasmus · Odds ratio · Retrospective cohort study · Severe Acute Malnutrition · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics