Ultrasonography and Other Nutrition Assessment Methods to Monitor the Nutrition Status of Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the use of ultrasonography (US) as an instrument to assess the quadriceps muscles in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), comparing the evolution of US-assessed mass muscle to other nutrition methods. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of adult patients aged ≥18 years admitted to an ICU of the Hospital das Clínicas in Brazil. Quadriceps muscle measurements were performed by US, and adductor pollicis muscle thickness and arm, calf, and thigh circumferences were measured at admission and every 2 days within the first week. Nutrition status was assessed at baseline by using the Subjective Global Assessment and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Mechanical ventilation time, length of hospital and ICU stay, and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included. Reductions in quadriceps thickness and rectus femoris cross-sectional area were observed at landmarks two-thirds reduction of both measurements from days 1 and 3 to days 5 and 7 (P = .017 and P = .000, respectively). The mid arm circumference (MAC) was reduced. Malnourished patients had lower initial muscle mass. However, muscle mass loss was similar between nourished and malnourished individuals (P > .005). Clinical outcomes were not impacted by muscle loss. CONCLUSIONS: US muscle mass assessment was able to detect short-term changes in critically ill patients but must be used with caution. MAC was also identified as a useful follow-up tool.

Ultrasonography to assess body composition: Relevance of training.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of ultrasonography training by non-experts carrying out quadriceps muscle mass assessment. METHODS: Two non-expert evaluators were trained by two radiologists on the basic principles of ultrasonography and quadriceps muscle measurements. Afterward, they performed assessments on 30 healthy volunteers to determine interobserver agreement, considering two landmarks (two-thirds of the femoral distance, and 10 cm above the patella), which were tested by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: In all, 342 measurements were acquired. Better ICC data were seen for the muscle at two-thirds (ICC = 0.74-0.86) of the landmark than at the 10-cm landmark (ICC = 0.63-0.91). However, the thickness measurements indicated inadequate agreement (ICC = 0.71). The ICC values for both the rectus femoris area and thickness progressively increased when comparing the first 10 measurements with the last 10 for the two-thirds landmark. For the 10-cm landmark, worse data were observed in the last measurements, perhaps due to the increased number of obese volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements at the 10-cm landmark are more difficult to acquire, especially in the obese. Intensive training for non-expert examiners is mandatory.

Perfil nutricional e fatores associados ao baixopeso e à redução do consumo alimentar emcrianças hospitalizadas / Nutritional profile and factors associaed with low body weight andreduction of food intake in hospitalized children

A avaliação do estado nutricional de crianças hospitalizadas assume um papel fundamental na identificação precocede riscos nutricionais. Assim, é de grande relevância identificar variáveis que exercem impacto no estado nutricional ena aceitação dos alimentos no ambiente hospitalar. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o perfil nutricional de criançasinternadas em um hospital e analisar as variáveis que exercem influência no diagnóstico nutricional e no consumoalimentar durante a hospitalização. O estado nutricional foi avaliado por meio da aferição de peso, comprimento/estatura,cálculo do Índice de Massa Corporal e avaliação dos índices antropométricos. A avaliação bioquímica foi realizadaa partir das informações disponíveis no prontuário clínico. Os dados socioeconômicos, alimentares, de aleitamentomaterno e avaliação da aceitação das refeições oferecidas foram coletados por meio de aplicação de um questionárioao responsável pela criança. Participaram do estudo 208 crianças, sendo 61,5% do sexo masculino e mediana deidade de 21,5(6-59) meses. Quanto ao estado nutricional, 80% das crianças foram classificadas como eutróficas, 10%apresentavam magreza e 10% excesso de peso. As crianças com baixo peso tiveram mais linfocitopenia (p=0,038)e também foram as que apresentaram menor tempo de aleitamento materno exclusivo (p=0,015). As crianças queapresentaram concentrações elevadas de PCR e leucócitos apresentaram baixa aceitação da dieta oferecida (p=0,034e p=0,040, respectivamente). Foram identificados fatores que se associaram ao baixo peso e a menor aceitação dasrefeições pelas crianças. Assim, atenção específica deve ser dada àquelas com alteração do estado inflamatório e commenor tempo de aleitamento materno exclusivo.

The evaluation of nutritional status in hospitalized children plays a critical role in the early identification of nutritionalrisk. Thus, it is of great importance to identify variables that have an impact on nutritional status and acceptance of foodin the hospital environment. The objective of this work to evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized children, thevariables that influence the nutritional diagnosis and food intake during hospitalization. Nutritional status was evaluatedby measurement of weight, length / height, body mass index and anthropometric indices. The biochemical evaluationwas performed based on the information available in the medical record. Socioeconomic, dietary and breastfeedingdata and, evaluation of the acceptance of meals offered were obtained through a questionnaire to the responsable forthe children. The study included 208 children, predominantly male (61.5%) and median age of 21.5 (6-59) months. Inrelation to nutritional status, 80% of children were classified eutrophic, 10% were thinness and 10% overweight. Childrenwith low weight had more cases of lymphocytopenia (p = 0.038) and were also those who had shorter time of exclusivebreastfeeding (p = 0.015). Children with elevated concentrations of PCR and leukocytes showed low acceptance of theoffered diet (p = 0.034 and p = 0.040, respectively). Factors associated with low weight and lower acceptance of mealsby children were identified. Particular attention should be given to children with altered inflammatory status and shortertime of exclusive breastfeeding.