Possibilities of implementing screening methods for nutritional risk assessment in children with neurological pathology

Abstract

Objective. Comparative evaluation and study of the effectiveness of using different nutritional risk screening tools in children with neurological pathology. Patients and methods. This study included 105 children with neurological pathology (epilepsy, cerebral palsy, congenital anomalies of the nervous system), among whom were 50 (47.6%) boys and 55 (52.4%) girls aged 1 to 17 years (7.8 ± 4.9 years). Anthropometric indices were assessed and questionnaires using nutritional risk screening tools were conducted, followed by calculation of their sensitivity and specificity. STRONGkids (Screening Tool Risk on Nutritional Status and Growth), PYMS (Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score), and STAMP (Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics) were used. Results. Assessment of anthropometric indices (weight-for-height, BMI-for-age, and height-for-age Z-scores) indicated malnutrition in 5 to 15 children (4.8-14.3%), depending on the evaluation criteria. According to the screening results, all patients were classified as high and medium risk of malnutrition, and 94 (89.5%) children required nutritional care according to STRONGkids, 38 (36.2%) children – according to PYMS, and 104 (99%) children – according to STAMP. The most sensitive screening tool was STAMP with a sensitivity score of 89.5% as compared with STRONGkids and PYMS (21.1% and 31.6%, respectively). Conclusion. The results of this work demonstrate the advantages of the STAMP tool in assessing the nutritional status of children with neurological pathology, given its higher efficacy in this group of patients, and the need for further research to develop practical recommendations. Key words: children, nutrient deficiency, nutritional risk screening tools