Dificultades en las percepciones familiares sobre alteraciones nutricionales y su relación con la desnutrición en niños, niñas y adolescentes con parálisis cerebral

Ana Laura Condinanzi; María de las Mercedes Ruiz Brunner; María Elisabeth Cieri; Carla Gil

Authors

Ana Laura Condinanzi Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas y Epidemiologicas (INICyE), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Córdoba, Argentina.
María de las Mercedes Ruiz Brunner Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas y Epidemiológicas (INICyE). Córdoba, Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Escuela de Nutrición. Córdoba, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4022-6261
María Elisabeth Cieri Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas y Epidemiológicas (INICyE). Córdoba, Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Escuela de Nutrición. Córdoba, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2889-4240
Carla Gil Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas y Epidemiologicas (INICyE), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Córdoba, Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3433-9120

Keywords:

families – nutritional status – cerebral palsy – child – feeding difficulties.

Abstract

Introduction: Undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is multifactorial and involves families, who may serve as informants of warning signs. The aim was to analyze the relationship between the information provided by families about nutritional disturbances and the presence of undernutrition in children and adolescents with CP.

Material and Methods: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Children and adolescents of both sexes aged 2 to 19 years with CP from Argentina were included. Interviews were conducted using the Argentine version of the Feeding and Nutrition Screen Tool (FNST), and anthropometric measurements were taken. Growth was evaluated with z-scores for weight/age, height/age, and BMI/age using WHO's Anthro Plus. Undernutrition was considered for those stuned, underweight or wasted . Categorical variables were described in percentages with [95% CI]. Normal data were presented as mean and SD, while non-normal data were presented as median and ranges. Groups were compared using Fisher's Exact Test (p<0.05).

Results: Data were obtained from 66 children and adolescents with CP. The average age was 11 years and 4 months (SD 5 to 7 m). A total of 67.3% (n=44) presented undernutrition. Only 22.7% (n=15) obtained a result of nutritional risk screening according to the FNST. No statistically significant association between the nutritional screening instrument and undernutrition (p=0.07). Within the questions of the instrument, only the families' identification of difficulties in drinking was associated with undernutrition (p=0.019).

Conclusion: No association was observed between the perception of families regarding weight and feeding with the presence of undernutrition in children with CP. It may be challenging for families to identify weight and feeding issues in children with CP that are associated with chronic undernutrition.

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