Nutritional risk and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adolescents: a multicenter cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between nutritional risk on admission and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adolescents. METHODS: Multicenter cohort study was conducted in two cities in the northeastern region of Brazil, with children under 18 years of age laboratory diagnosed with COVID-19. Sociodemographic data and nutritional risk screening by STRONGKids (low, medium and high risk) were collected remotely and in hospital records, respectively. The outcomes assessed were the need for ICU admission, length of stay (< 10 days or ≥ 10 days), critical cases, and death. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effects of high nutritional risk on COVID-19 clinical outcomes. RESULTS: 103 individuals were evaluated, of these 35 (34.0%) had low risk, 44 (42.7%) medium risk, and 24 (23.3%) had high risk of malnutrition. In multivariate analysis, ICU bed admission (OR: 4.57; 95%CI, 1.39-4.97; p = 0.01), hospitalization longer than or equal to ten days (OR: 3.96; 95%CI, 1.22-2.83; p = 0.02) and critical cases (OR: 4.35; 95%CI, 1.08-7.55; p = 0.04) were associated with high nutritional risk. Death was not associated with high nutritional risk. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with high nutritional risk by STRONGkids at hospital admission were more likely to be admitted to the ICU, have hospitalization longer than or equal to ten days, and have critical cases when infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Nutritional risk and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adolescents: a multicenter cohort

Abstract Objective: To verify the association between nutritional risk on admission and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adolescents. Methods: Multicenter cohort study was conducted in two cities in the northeastern region of Brazil, with children under 18 years of age laboratory diagnosed with COVID-19. Sociodemographic data and nutritional risk screening by STRONGKids (low, medium and high risk) were collected remotely and in hospital records, respectively. The outcomes assessed were the need for ICU admission, length of stay (< 10 days or ≥ 10 days), critical cases, and death. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effects of high nutritional risk on COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Results: 103 individuals were evaluated, of these 35 (34.0%) had low risk, 44 (42.7%) medium risk, and 24 (23.3%) had high risk of malnutrition. In multivariate analysis, ICU bed admission (OR: 4.57; 95%CI, 1.39-4.97; p = 0.01), hospitalization longer than or equal to ten days (OR: 3.96; 95%CI, 1.22-2.83; p = 0.02) and critical cases (OR: 4.35; 95%CI, 1.08-7.55; p = 0.04) were associated with high nutritional risk. Death was not associated with high nutritional risk. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with high nutritional risk by STRONGkids at hospital admission were more likely to be admitted to the ICU, have hospitalization longer than or equal to ten days, and have critical cases when infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Gut Microbiota Differences in Children From Distinct Socioeconomic Levels Living in the Same Urban Area in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To compare gut microbiota in impoverished children versus children of high socioeconomic status living in the same urban area in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate 100 children living in a slum and 30 children from a private school, ages between 5 and 11 years old, in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. To characterize the groups, data based on socioeconomic status, sanitation, and housing conditions were collected. Anthropometric measurements and neonatal data were obtained from both groups. Gut microbiota were quantified in fecal samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The children in the private school group had higher rates of cesarean delivery and premature birth than the children in the slum group. Staphylococcus aureus (90% vs 48.0%) and Clostridium difficile (100% vs 43.0%) were more commonly found in the children from the private school than in the impoverished children (P < 0.0001). C perfringens was most frequently identified in the group of children from the slum (92.0% vs 80%; P = 0.064). Higher counts of total eubacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla organisms, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp., and Methanobrevibacter smithii were found in the children living in poverty, whereas higher counts of Salmonella spp., C difficile, and C perfringens were observed in the children living in satisfactory housing conditions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Important differences were observed between the gut microbiota of children living under distinct socioeconomic and environmental conditions within the same city. Our findings suggest that children of high socioeconomic status have less favorable gut microbiota than do children who live in poverty.

Lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes de crianças escolares de dois estratos socioeconômicos: moradores em uma favela e alunos de uma escola particular / Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the feces of schoolchildren of two different socioeconomic groups: children from a favela and children from a private school

OBJETIVO: Determinar o número de colônias de lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes de crianças escolares, pertencentes a dois estratos socioeconômicos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas amostras de fezes de crianças com idade entre 6 e 10 anos sem sintomas gastrointestinais ou uso recente de antimicrobianos. O primeiro grupo foi constituído por 86 crianças, moradoras em uma favela localizada no município de Osasco (SP). O segundo grupo foi constituído por 36 crianças matriculadas em uma escola particular da mesma cidade. O estado nutricional foi avaliado usando o índice de massa corporal (IMC) de acordo com os valores de referência do National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). O isolamento das colônias foi realizado em meios de cultura específicos em anaerobiose, durante 48 e 72 horas a 37 °C. A determinação do número foi feita pelo método da contagem em placa. RESULTADOS: A mediana de lactobacilos (1,125 x 10(9) unidades formadoras de colônia, UFC/g) e bifidobactérias (1,675 x 10(9) UFC/g) na escola particular foi superior (p < 0,001) ao do grupo da favela: 0,250 x 10(9) e 0,350 x 10(9) UFC/g, respectivamente. No grupo da favela, crianças com escore z de IMC < -1,0 desvio padrão (n = 28) apresentaram menor mediana (p < 0,05) de lactobacilos (0,100 x 10(9) UFC/g) e bifidobactérias (0,095 x 10(9) UFC/g) em relação às crianças com IMC > -1,0 desvio padrão (n = 57): 0,350 x 10(9) e 0,420 x 10(9) UFC/g, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A microbiota de crianças escolares que moram em condições ambientais desfavoráveis apresenta menor número de colônias de lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes, especialmente naquelas com menores valores do IMC.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies in the feces of schoolchildren from two different socioeconomic levels. METHODS: We analyzed fecal samples of children aged 6 to 10 years without gastrointestinal symptoms or recent use of antimicrobials. The first group included 86 children living in a favela in the city of Osasco, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The second group included 36 children attending a private school in the same city. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess nutritional status according to the reference values of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Specific anaerobic culture media were used for isolation of colonies for 48 and 72 hours at 37 °C. The number of colonies was determined using the plate-counting method. RESULTS: The mean lactobacillus (1.125 x 10(9) colony-forming units, CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (1.675 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts in the private school group were higher (p < 0.001) than those in the favela group: 0.250 x 10(9) and 0.350 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. In the favela group, children with BMI z score < -1.0 standard deviation (SD) (n = 28) showed lower mean (p < 0.05) lactobacillus (0.100 x 10(9) CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (0.095 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts than the children with BMI > -1.0 SD (n = 57): 0.350 x 10(9) and 0.420 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. CONCLUSION: The microbiota of schoolchildren living in unfavorable environmental conditions shows lower numbers of fecal lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies, especially in children with lower BMI values.

Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the feces of schoolchildren of two different socioeconomic groups: children from a favela and children from a private school.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies in the feces of schoolchildren from two different socioeconomic levels. METHODS: We analyzed fecal samples of children aged 6 to 10 years without gastrointestinal symptoms or recent use of antimicrobials. The first group included 86 children living in a favela in the city of Osasco, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The second group included 36 children attending a private school in the same city. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess nutritional status according to the reference values of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Specific anaerobic culture media were used for isolation of colonies for 48 and 72 hours at 37 degrees C. The number of colonies was determined using the plate-counting method. RESULTS: The mean lactobacillus (1.125 x 10(9) colony-forming units, CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (1.675 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts in the private school group were higher (p < 0.001) than those in the favela group: 0.250 x 10(9) and 0.350 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. In the favela group, children with BMI z score < -1.0 standard deviation (SD) (n = 28) showed lower mean (p < 0.05) lactobacillus (0.100 x 10(9) CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (0.095 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts than the children with BMI >or= -1.0 SD (n = 57): 0.350 x 10(9) and 0.420 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. CONCLUSION: The microbiota of schoolchildren living in unfavorable environmental conditions shows lower numbers of fecal lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies, especially in children with lower BMI values.