Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Weight Loss during Hospitalization in Children: A Single Korean Children's Hospital Experience

Purpose: Undernutrition during hospitalization increases the risk of nosocomial infection and lengthens the disease courses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization in children. Methods: All the patients who were admitted in general wards between April and May 2014 were enrolled. Patients aged >18 years and discharged within 2 days were excluded. Weight loss during hospitalization was defined as a decrease in body weight of >2% in 8 hospital days or on the day of discharge. Patients who lost body weight during hospitalization were compared with patients who maintained their body weights. Significant parameters were evaluated by using the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: We enrolled 602 patients, of whom 149 (24.8%) lost >2% of their body weight. Complaint of pain (p=0.004), admission to the surgical department (p=0.001), undergoing surgery (p=0.044), undergoing abdominal surgery (p=0.034), and nil per os (NPO) durations (p=0.003) were related to weight loss during hospitalization. The patients who had high weight-for-age tended to lose more body weight (p=0.001). Admission to the surgical department (odds ratio [OR], 1.668; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.054-2.637; p=0.029) and long NPO durations (OR, 1.496; 95% CI, 1.102-2.031; p=0.010) were independent risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization. The patients with high weight-for-age tended to lose more weight during hospitalization (OR, 1.188; 95% CI, 1.029-1.371; p=0.019). Conclusion: Greater care in terms of nutrition should be taken for patients who are admitted in the surgical department and have prolonged duration of nothing by mouth.