Malnutrition in a UK children's hospital

A survey of the nutritional status of a multi-racial group of children in a UK regional referral centre revealed a high prevalence of both acute and chronic protein-energy malnutrition; 16% were severely stunted and 14% severely wasted, with a further 20% at risk of severe malnutrition if nutritionally stressed. Severe stunting was particularly common in patients with chronic cardiac or gastrointestinal disorders. No racial differences in stunting were found. These findings indicate that formal nutritional surveillance of children in hospital is important, and will identify a large reservoir of patients with secondary malnutrition requiring nutritional support.