Nutritional status of children and adolescents at diagnosis of hematological and solid malignancies

ObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of child and adolescent patients with cancer at diagnosis.MethodsA total of 1154 patients were included and divided into two groups: solid and hematological malignancies. The parameters used for nutritional assessment were weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, body mass index and percentage weight loss.ResultsAt diagnosis, below adequate body mass index was observed by anthropometric analysis in 10.85% of the patients – 12.2% in the solid tumor group and 9.52% in the hematologic group. The average weight loss adjusted for a period of 7 days was −2.82% in the hematologic group and −2.9% in the solid tumor group.ConclusionsThe prevalence of malnutrition is higher among patients with malignancies than in the general population, even though no difference was observed between the two groups.