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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Malnutrition | Research

Ultrasound assessment of malnutrition in infancy: a pilot case-control study

Authors: Meng-Fan Tai, Ruth Bvalani, Bazwell Nkhalema, Emmie Mbale, Karen Chetcuti, Pui-Ying Iroh Tam

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the intra- and inter-rater reliability in ultrasound body composition measurements and investigating the differences between malnourished and non-malnourished infants. Sonographic images for measurements of fat and muscle thickness were compared between 9 malnourished and 9 non-malnourished hospitalized infants. The mean of fat and muscle thickness sums were 12.44 ± 7.58 mm and 28.98 ± 7.18 mm, respectively. The intra- and inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient were above 0.9 for both measurements, indicating high intra- and inter-rater reliability. Compared to non-malnourished infants, malnourished infants have 45% of fat thickness sum and 71% of muscle thickness sum. Ultrasound measurements of body composition in infants were different between hospitalized malnourished and non-malnourished infants. This approach has the potential to be utilized more broadly, from assessing the nutritional status of critically ill infants in intensive care units to screening for malnutrition in high-risk infant populations.

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Title: Ultrasound assessment of malnutrition in infancy: a pilot case-control study
Authors: Meng-Fan Tai
Ruth Bvalani
Bazwell Nkhalema
Emmie Mbale
Karen Chetcuti
Pui-Ying Iroh Tam
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Malnutrition
Published in: BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04479-z

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Ultrasound assessment of malnutrition in infancy: a pilot case-control study

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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