Nutrition-Focused Physical Examination for Detecting Protein Energy Wasting in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

INTRODUCTION: There is a need to explore less laborious point-of-care assessment tools to diagnose protein energy wasting (PEW) in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the profile of specific nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE) and mid-arm muscle area (MAMA) in children with CKD and determine their role in the diagnosis of PEW. METHODS: PEW criterion was applied to all eligible children and MAMA was derived from mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness. NFPE signs examined were muscle wasting (MW) and subcutaneous fat loss (FL). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six children with CKD (86 in CKD stages 2–4 and 40 on dialysis) were studied. PEW was prevalent in 41.8% children with CKD2-4 and in 72.5% on dialysis. In children with CKD 2–4, low MAMA, MW, and FL were significantly associated with PEW with an odd’s ratio of 5.3 (1.55,18.30), 10.6 (3.8,29.8), and 10.5 (3.7,29.2) respectively (P = <0.001). Similarly, in children on dialysis, low MAMA, MW, and FL were more likely to be associated with PEW with an odd’s ratio of 17 (2.2,127.7); P = 0.017, 16.6 (3,90.8); P = 0.001 and 19 (2.1,170.3); and P = 0.009, respectively. MW demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity [80.6 and 72%, respectively, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 67.4%] to diagnose PEW in the CKD 2-4 group and in those on dialysis [86.2 and 72.1%, respectively, with PPV of 89.3%]. CONCLUSION: Clinical signs based on NFPE are useful in detecting PEW in children with CKD2-4 and in those on dialysis.