BMI fails to identify poor nutritional status in stunted children with CF

J Cyst Fibros. 2017 Jan;16(1):158-160. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2016.11.005.

Abstract

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is currently emphasized for evaluating nutritional status in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Weight for age (WFA) and height for age (HFA) may get less attention.

Methods: Data from the Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis were used to compare patient WFA, HFA, and BMI percentiles for children age 2 to 18years.

Results: For children with BMI between the 25th and 50th percentiles, 16.8% had WFA <10th percentile and 26.6% had HFA <10th percentile.

Conclusions: BMI fails to identify a substantial proportion of children with CF who have stunting or potentially poor nutritional status as measured by WFA and/or HFA.

Keywords: Body mass index; Cystic fibrosis; Growth; Height for age; Weight for age.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Body Height
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Body Weight
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cystic Fibrosis* / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis* / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Growth Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Growth Disorders* / etiology
  • Growth Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Reproducibility of Results