BMC Nutrition (Dec 2022)

Describing the growth and nutritional status of sickle cell disease children and adolescents with reference to WHO growth standards in Cameroon

  • Eposse Ekoube Charlotte,
  • Mbono Betoko Ritha Carole,
  • Ida Penda Calixthe,
  • Mony Elimbi Jeanne Georgette,
  • Epee Patricia,
  • Hassanatou Iyawa,
  • Mandeng Ma Linwa Edgar,
  • Budzi Michael Ngenge,
  • Ntsoli Kofane Gaelle,
  • Ekame Bulu Bianca Claudia,
  • Sajida Misse Dicka,
  • Koki Ndombo Paul,
  • Kedy Mangamba Koum Daniele-Christiane

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-022-00650-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease with many complications among which is growth retardation. Here, we described the growth and nutritional status patterns of children with SCD and adolescents living in Douala, Cameroon. Methods This cross-sectional study took place at the sickle cell treatment center of Douala Laquintinie Hospital from November 2015 to April 2016. The sociodemographic and anthropometric information of each SCD patient was determined, and then used for computing z-score indexes (weight for age, weight for height, body mass index for height, and height for age). The different indexes were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition forms (stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight/obesity) and compared to WHO standards by gender and age. Results A total of 208 children and adolescents participated in the study. The mean age was 8 years (±5) and the median age was 7 years. Males accounted for 53.4% of cases, giving a sex ratio of 1:1.1. The proportions of wasting, stunting, underweight, and overweight/obesity in the overall population were 7.1% (n = 15), 9.1% (n = 19), 3.6% (n = 5) and 3.3% (n = 7) respectively. In children under 5, wasting, stunting, underweight, and overweight/obesity were noted in 1.4% (n = 1), 9.5% (n = 7), 1.4% (n = 1), and 5.4% (n = 4) respectively. In patients aged 5 years and above, a proportion of 10.5% (n = 14) was wasted, 9.0% (n = 12) were stunted, 5.9% (n = 4) were underweight and 2.2% (n = 7) were overweight/obese. The growth curve of children under five in our study was superimposable to the WHO standard growth curve. In children older than 5 years, the left shift for stunting was more pronounced for boys compared to girls. Conclusion Nine percent of children and adolescents with SCD are stunted. The growth deficit appeared to be higher in patients aged 5 years and above, more particularly in boys than girls. Overweight/obesity was uncommon in our series. More robust research designs and statistical analyses are needed to confirm or refute these findings.

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