Abstract

Author(s): Velázquez Serrano, Enriqueta1; Omaña Covarrubias, Arianna1; Cortés Alva, Deyanira2; Moya Escalera, Adrián3

Introduction: the nutritional status of the pediatric cancer patient is important, since malnutrition increases morbidity due to chemotherapy, as well as abandonment of treatment, which decreases survival. Obtaining a correct diagnosis could improve nutritional care and impact the patient’s quality of life and survival; currently there are efficient alternatives such as electrical bioimpedance, to perform efficient diagnoses; however, its use is not viable in some public institutions.

Objective: to determine the correlation of anthropometric parameters (mean arm circumference, BMI, BMI Z score and age-sized Z score) and biochemical (serum albumin) with body composition in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Methods: 17 patients with a recent diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia were evaluated in a pediatric hospital in Mexico, evaluations included anthropometric parameters (weight, height, average arm circumference, BMI, BMI Z score and TE Z score) biochemical (albumin) and body composition (protein, body fat mass, percentage of fat mass and skeletal muscle mass).

Results: Correlation of the average arm circumference with weight, height, BMI, total body protein, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass and BMI Z score was found. The BMI presented association with total body protein, skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass. The Z score of BMI showed a correlation with the percentage of body fat and body fat mass. There was no correlation of the Z score for height and albumin concentration.

Conclusions: This study helps us to establish that the nutritional assessment of cancer patients should be extended to other elements that imply a thorough evaluation and that are of vital importance in the prognosis of morbi-mortality of these patients.