Dutch national survey to test the STRONG(kids) nutritional risk screening tool in hospitalized children

作者：Hulst Jessie M^*; Zwart Henrike; Hop Wim C; Joosten Koen F M

来源：Clinical Nutrition, 2010, 29(1): 106-111.

DOI：10.1016/j.clnu.2009.07.006

• Malnutrition
• Risk group
• Screening tool
• Hospitalized children
• National study

Background & aims: Children admitted to the hospital are at risk of developing malnutrition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and value of a new nutritional risk screening tool, called STRONG(kids), in a nationwide study.
Methods: A Prospective observational multi-centre study was performed in 44 Dutch hospitals (7 academic and 37 general), over three consecutive days during the month of November 2007. The STRONGkids screening tool consisted of 4 items: (1) subjective clinical assessment, (2) high risk disease, (3) nutritional intake, (4) weight loss. Measurements of weight and length were performed. SD-scores <-2 for weight-for-height and height-for-age were considered to indicate acute and chronic malnutrition respectively.
Results: A total of 424 children were included. Median age was 3.5 years and median hospital stay was 2 days. Sixty-two percent of the children were classified "at risk" of developing malnutrition by the STRONG(kids) tool. Children at risk had significantly lower SD-scores for weight-for-height, a higher prevalence of acute malnutrition and a longer hospital stay compared to children with no nutritional risk.
Conclusions: The nutritional risk screening tool STRONG(kids) was successfully applied to 98% of the children. Using this tool, a significant relationship was found between having a "high risk" score, a negative SD-score in weight-for-height and a prolonged hospital stay.

• 出版日期2010-2