Can calf circumference be a viable option for nutritional assessment in the PICU?

BACKGROUND: Children admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) often need specialised nutritional intervention. Nutritional assessments provide specific data to support such interventions. Body composition measures, such as mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), can complement nutritional assessment. However, MUAC has limitations. Calf circumference (CC) is an easy and common measure of muscle loss in the elderly; however, there are still very few studies on CC in children. AIMS: To evaluate the viability of using CC for nutritional monitoring of children under intensive care, compared with MUAC and weight. METHODS: Patients aged 2-10 years admitted to the PICU between December 2018 and August 2019 were included in the study. Two MUAC, CC, and weight measurements were performed: one in the first 24 h after PICU admission and another after 7 days. As there are no reference values for CC in children, this measure was used solely to observe the patient's individual progress. The nutritional status, both according to body mass index and MUAC, was used to characterise samples. Percentage changes in these measures were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparison between medians and Spearman's correlation test. Information from medical records regarding hospitalisation was also collected and analysed. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in the study. During hospitalisation week 1, CC decreased significantly (p = 0.001), whereas MUAC (p = 0.427) and weight (p = 0.315) did not change significantly. Percentage changes in CC and MUAC were statistically different (p = 0.0449), with a positive correlation between the changes in both measures (p = 0.0333; r = 0.3896); conversely, although the percentage changes in CC and weight significantly differed (p = 0.0066), no correlation was found between them (p = 0.9382; r = 0.0148). The percentage changes in MUAC and weight were not different (p = 0.1880) or correlated (p = 0.1691; r = 0.2577). No statistically significant relationship was found between percentage changes in CC and clinical outcomes (length of stay, fasting time, and mechanical ventilation time). CONCLUSIONS: CC appears to be a viable measure for use in PICUs. Although positively correlated with MUAC, a measure proven useful in critically ill children, CC decreased significantly in the first week of intensive care, whereas MUAC remained unchanged, indicating that CC may show signs of depletion earlier than MUAC in these patients. Our study reinforces the importance of alternative measures for anthropometric assessment of critically ill children.

Alterações alimentares e hábitos de vida de pacientes com fibrose cística na pandemia de COVID-19 / Dietary changes and life habits of patients with cystic fibrosis in the COVID-19 pandemic / Cambios en la dieta y hábitos de vida de pacientes con fibrosis quística en la pandemia COVID-19

Objetivo: verificar alterações no consumo alimentar e hábitos de vida em pacientes com fibrose cística brasileiros durante o período de isolamento social devido a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: pesquisa transversal com levantamento de dados por meio de questionário elaborado pela equipe de nutricionistas especialistas no tratamento de pacientes com fibrose cística, com questões referentes às manifestações respiratórias recentes de pacientes ou familiares, alterações nos hábitos de aquisição e compras de alimentos e alterações quanto ao consumo de grupos alimentares e suplementos. Os dados foram tabulados e foi realizada uma análise descritiva. Resultados: 40,34% das famílias de pacientes com fibrose cística mudaram os hábitos de compras de alimentos, cerca de 40% dos pacientes diminuíram a prática de atividade física e aumentaram o tempo de uso de telas em mais de 50% durante o período da pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusão: Apesar de algumas dificuldades relacionadas à aquisição dos alimentos e alterações em hábitos de vida, houve manutenção do consumo alimentar da maioria dos grupos alimentares e suplementos pelos pacientes pediátricos com fibrose cística brasileiros durante o isolamento social devido a pandemia de COVID-19.

Objective: to verify changes in food consumption and lifestyle in Brazilian cystic fibrosis patients during the period of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: cross-sectional survey with data collection through a questionnaire prepared by the team of nutritionists specialized in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis, with questions regarding the recent respiratory manifestations of patients or family members, changes in the habits of purchasing food and changes regarding the consumption of food groups and supplements. The data were tabulated and a descriptive analysis was performed. Results: 40.34% of the families of patients with cystic fibrosis changed their food shopping habits, about 40% of the patients decreased their physical activity and increased the time spent using screens by more than 50% during the pandemic COVID-19. Conclusion: despite some difficulties related to the acquisition of food and changes in lifestyle, there was maintenance of the food consumption of most food groups and supplements by Brazilian pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis during social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objetivo: verificar cambios en el consumo de alimentos y estilo de vida en pacientes brasileños con fibrosis quística durante el período de aislamiento social por la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: encuesta transversal con recolección de datos por medio de un cuestionario elaborado por un equipo de nutricionistas especializados en el tratamiento de pacientes con fibrosis quística, con preguntas sobre las manifestaciones respiratorias recientes de pacientes o familiares, cambios en los hábitos de compra de alimentos y cambios en el consumo de grupos de alimentos y suplementos. Los datos se tabularon y se realizó un análisis descriptivo. Resultados: el 40,34% de los familiares de pacientes con fibrosis quística cambiaron sus hábitos de compra de alimentos, alrededor del 40% de los pacientes disminuyó la práctica de actividad física y aumentó el tiempo de uso de pantallas en más del 50% durante el período pandémico. COVID-19. Conclusión: A pesar de algunas dificultades relacionadas con la adquisición de alimentos y cambios en el estilo de vida, hubo mantenimiento del consumo de alimentos de la mayoría de los grupos de alimentos y suplementos por parte de pacientes pediátricos brasileños con fibrosis quística durante el aislamiento social debido a la pandemia COVID-19.

Projeto piloto de implantação de uma cozinha cetogênica para tratamento de epilepsia refratária / Pilot project of Implementation of a keto-kitchen for the treatment of refractory epilepsy / Proyecto piloto para implementar una cocina cetogénica para el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria

Objetivo: verificar alterações no consumo alimentar e hábitos de vida em pacientes com fibrose cística brasileiros durante o período de isolamento social devido a pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: pesquisa transversal com levantamento de dados por meio de questionário elaborado pela equipe de nutricionistas especialistas no tratamento de pacientes com fibrose cística, com questões referentes às manifestações respiratórias recentes de pacientes ou familiares, alterações nos hábitos de aquisição e compras de alimentos e alterações quanto ao consumo de grupos alimentares e suplementos. Os dados foram tabulados e foi realizada uma análise descritiva. Resultados: 40,34% das famílias de pacientes com fibrose cística mudaram os hábitos de compras de alimentos, cerca de 40% dos pacientes diminuíram a prática de atividade física e aumentaram o tempo de uso de telas em mais de 50% durante o período da pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusões: Apesar de algumas dificuldades relacionadas à aquisição dos alimentos e alterações em hábitos de vida, houve manutenção do consumo alimentar da maioria dos grupos alimentares e suplementos pelos pacientes pediátricos com fibrose cística brasileiros durante o isolamento social devido a pandemia de COVID-19

Objective: This study describes the creation of the first ketogenic diet-teaching kitchen at a ketogenic reference center in Brazil aimed at developing ketogenic recipes and holding keto-culinary workshops with caregivers. Method: In this prospective study, 26 recipes were tested and assessed by sensory panel testing. Eighteen recipes were selected to be prepared in culinary workshops with parents or legal guardians of children with refractory epilepsy receiving the ketogenic diet as outpatients. All recipes were selected, calculated, and approved by registered dietitians. Results: Eight parents or legal guardians participated in four culinary workshops. The activities were extremely satisfactory: participants were able to clear out their doubts, learn, practice recipes, and develop new skills. In general, all participants enjoyed the prepared recipes and praised the culinary workshop. Conclusion: The ketogenic teaching kitchen enabled the development of ketogenic recipes adapted to Brazilian eating habits. Providing alternative meals to children is essential for enhancing compliance with the ketogenic diet because they contribute to expand the dietary repertoire of these patients. Future studies with high methodological quality should test the efficacy of the ketogenic kitchen in increasing compliance with the ketogenic diet in the long term.

Objetivo: Este estudio describe la creación de la primera cocina cetogénica para enseñar dieta cetogénica en un centro de referencia en Brasil, con el objetivo de desarrollar recetas cetogénicas y realizar talleres culinarios con los cuidadores. Método: En este estudio prospectivo, un panel sensorial probó y evaluó 26 recetas. Se seleccionaron dieciocho recetas para ser elaboradas en talleres de cocina con padres o tutores legales de niños con epilepsia refractaria que reciben una dieta cetogénica ambulatoria. Todas las recetas fueron seleccionadas, calculadas y aprobadas por nutricionistas. Resultados: Ocho padres o tutores participaron en cuatro talleres culinarios. Las actividades fueron sumamente satisfactorias: los participantes pudieron despejar sus dudas, aprender, practicar recetas y desarrollar nuevas habilidades. En general, a todos los participantes les gustaron las recetas elaboradas y elogiaron el taller de cocina. Conclusión: La cocina de enseñanza cetogénica permitió el desarrollo de recetas cetogénicas adaptadas a los hábitos alimentarios brasileños. Proporcionar comidas alternativas a los niños es fundamental para mejorar la adherencia a la dieta cetogénica, ya que contribuyen a ampliar el repertorio dietético de estos pacientes. Los estudios futuros con alta calidad metodológica deberían probar la efectividad de la cocina cetogénica para aumentar la adherencia a la dieta cetogénica a largo plazo.