Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa; Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka; Edna Iroha; Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Edna Iroha, Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 4)

Received: 9 October 2013 Published: 20 November 2013

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Abstract

Background: Fetal malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and mortalities and its proper documentation in a newborn is essential for optimal management of the child.Objective: To determine the nutritional status of preterm newborns at birth using CANSCORE and anthropometry and to compare the relative efficiency of CANSCORE and the anthropometric indices in detecting FM.Methods:The study was carried out on consecutive, singleton, live born babies of ≥28 completed weeks through 36 weeks gestation born at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria without any major congenital abnormalities or severe perinatal illness. Each infant was examined by the investigator within 48 hours of birth. Birth weights and lengths were recorded for each infant at birth. Using the Oloweintrauterine growth chart, birth weights for gestational age below the 3rd percentile and above the 97th percentile on the chart were taken as small for gestational age and large for gestational age respectively. PI was computed from the formula: PI = weight (g) / length3 (cm) X100. A PI <2.2 was considered as malnutrition.The MAC/HC ratio was calculated for each infant and value plotted on and compared with a standard curve. Clinical assessment of nutritional status score (CANSCORE) consisted of inspection and estimation of loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles in the designated areas. A maximum score of 4 was awarded to each parameter with no evidence of malnutrition, and the lowest score of 1 was awarded to parameter with the worst evidence of malnutrition. Fetal malnutrition was defined as CANSCORE less than 25. Statistical analysis was done using the Epi info statistics software version 3.5.1.Results:One hundred and forty preterm newborns were assessed.One hundred and eight (77%) of them were of LBW. CANSCORE identified 34.3% of the babies as FM while PI, MAC/HC and birth weight identified 30.7%, 12.1 and 3.6% of the babies, respectively, as FM. The mean CANSCORE and anthropometry between males and females were not significantly different (p >0.05). Both CANSCORE and PI detected significantly large numbers of FM in the study sample compared with birth weight. All the anthropometric parameters showed low sensitivity in detection of FM (which is the visible wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles) but they all had high specificity.Conclusion:FM is still prevalent in our environment even in preterm babies. CANSCORE identified moremalnourished subjects than anthropometry.

Published in	Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
Page(s)	50-56
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Preterm, CANSCORE, Anthropometry, Newborns

References

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APA Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Edna Iroha, Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. (2013). Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 1(4), 50-56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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ACS Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa; Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka; Edna Iroha; Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2013, 1(4), 50-56. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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AMA Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Edna Iroha, Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. J Food Nutr Sci. 2013;1(4):50-56. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14,
  author = {Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa and Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka and Edna Iroha and Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji},
  title = {Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {50-56},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20130104.14},
  abstract = {Background: Fetal malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and mortalities and its proper documentation in a newborn is essential for optimal management of the child.Objective: To determine the nutritional status of preterm newborns at birth using CANSCORE and anthropometry and to compare the relative efficiency of CANSCORE and the anthropometric indices in detecting FM.Methods:The study was carried out on consecutive, singleton, live born babies of ≥28 completed weeks through 36 weeks gestation born at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria without any major congenital abnormalities or severe perinatal illness. Each infant was examined by the investigator within 48 hours of birth. Birth weights and lengths were recorded for each infant at birth. Using the Oloweintrauterine growth chart, birth weights for gestational age below the 3rd percentile and above the 97th percentile on the chart were taken as small for gestational age and large for gestational age respectively. PI was computed from the formula: PI = weight (g) / length3 (cm) X100. A PI 0.05). Both CANSCORE and PI detected significantly large numbers of FM in the study sample compared with birth weight. All the anthropometric parameters showed low sensitivity in detection of FM (which is the visible wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles) but they all had high specificity.Conclusion:FM is still prevalent in our environment even in preterm babies. CANSCORE identified moremalnourished subjects than anthropometry.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns
AU  - Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa
AU  - Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka
AU  - Edna Iroha
AU  - Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji
Y1  - 2013/11/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 50
EP  - 56
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
AB  - Background: Fetal malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and mortalities and its proper documentation in a newborn is essential for optimal management of the child.Objective: To determine the nutritional status of preterm newborns at birth using CANSCORE and anthropometry and to compare the relative efficiency of CANSCORE and the anthropometric indices in detecting FM.Methods:The study was carried out on consecutive, singleton, live born babies of ≥28 completed weeks through 36 weeks gestation born at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria without any major congenital abnormalities or severe perinatal illness. Each infant was examined by the investigator within 48 hours of birth. Birth weights and lengths were recorded for each infant at birth. Using the Oloweintrauterine growth chart, birth weights for gestational age below the 3rd percentile and above the 97th percentile on the chart were taken as small for gestational age and large for gestational age respectively. PI was computed from the formula: PI = weight (g) / length3 (cm) X100. A PI 0.05). Both CANSCORE and PI detected significantly large numbers of FM in the study sample compared with birth weight. All the anthropometric parameters showed low sensitivity in detection of FM (which is the visible wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles) but they all had high specificity.Conclusion:FM is still prevalent in our environment even in preterm babies. CANSCORE identified moremalnourished subjects than anthropometry.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa

Department of Pediatrics, Gold Cross Hospital, 17B Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria
Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka

Department of Pediatrics, Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria
Edna Iroha

Department of Pediatrics, Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria
Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji

Department of Pediatrics, Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria

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APA Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Edna Iroha, Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. (2013). Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 1(4), 50-56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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ACS Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa; Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka; Edna Iroha; Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2013, 1(4), 50-56. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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AMA Style

Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Edna Iroha, Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji. Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns. J Food Nutr Sci. 2013;1(4):50-56. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14,
  author = {Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa and Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka and Edna Iroha and Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji},
  title = {Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {50-56},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20130104.14},
  abstract = {Background: Fetal malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and mortalities and its proper documentation in a newborn is essential for optimal management of the child.Objective: To determine the nutritional status of preterm newborns at birth using CANSCORE and anthropometry and to compare the relative efficiency of CANSCORE and the anthropometric indices in detecting FM.Methods:The study was carried out on consecutive, singleton, live born babies of ≥28 completed weeks through 36 weeks gestation born at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria without any major congenital abnormalities or severe perinatal illness. Each infant was examined by the investigator within 48 hours of birth. Birth weights and lengths were recorded for each infant at birth. Using the Oloweintrauterine growth chart, birth weights for gestational age below the 3rd percentile and above the 97th percentile on the chart were taken as small for gestational age and large for gestational age respectively. PI was computed from the formula: PI = weight (g) / length3 (cm) X100. A PI 0.05). Both CANSCORE and PI detected significantly large numbers of FM in the study sample compared with birth weight. All the anthropometric parameters showed low sensitivity in detection of FM (which is the visible wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles) but they all had high specificity.Conclusion:FM is still prevalent in our environment even in preterm babies. CANSCORE identified moremalnourished subjects than anthropometry.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determination of Fetal Malnutrition in Preterm Newborns
AU  - Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa
AU  - Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka
AU  - Edna Iroha
AU  - Matthias TaiwoChuye Egri-Okwaji
Y1  - 2013/11/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 50
EP  - 56
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20130104.14
AB  - Background: Fetal malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and mortalities and its proper documentation in a newborn is essential for optimal management of the child.Objective: To determine the nutritional status of preterm newborns at birth using CANSCORE and anthropometry and to compare the relative efficiency of CANSCORE and the anthropometric indices in detecting FM.Methods:The study was carried out on consecutive, singleton, live born babies of ≥28 completed weeks through 36 weeks gestation born at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria without any major congenital abnormalities or severe perinatal illness. Each infant was examined by the investigator within 48 hours of birth. Birth weights and lengths were recorded for each infant at birth. Using the Oloweintrauterine growth chart, birth weights for gestational age below the 3rd percentile and above the 97th percentile on the chart were taken as small for gestational age and large for gestational age respectively. PI was computed from the formula: PI = weight (g) / length3 (cm) X100. A PI 0.05). Both CANSCORE and PI detected significantly large numbers of FM in the study sample compared with birth weight. All the anthropometric parameters showed low sensitivity in detection of FM (which is the visible wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissues and muscles) but they all had high specificity.Conclusion:FM is still prevalent in our environment even in preterm babies. CANSCORE identified moremalnourished subjects than anthropometry.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

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