Esther Babirekere-Iriso1,2, Maren Johanne Heilskov Rytter2, Hanifa Namusoke1, Ezekiel Mupere3, Kim F Michaelsen2, Ken D Stark4, Lotte Lauritzen2, André Briend2,5, Henrik Friis2, Søren Brage6, Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen2,7. 1. Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. 2. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark. 3. Department of Paediatrics, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. 4. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada. 5. Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere School of Medicine and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. 6. Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. 7. Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level and predictors of physical activity at discharge among children recovering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). METHODS: We conducted a prospective study among 69 children 6-59 months of age admitted with SAM for nutritional rehabilitation at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. Using hip-mounted triaxial accelerometers, we measured physical activity expressed as counts per minute (cpm) during the last three days of hospital treatment. As potential predictors, we assessed clinical and background characteristics, duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation, serum C-reactive protein and whole-blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of physical activity. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age was 15.5 (12.6; 20.5) months. At discharge, the mean (SD) movement was 285 (126) cpm. Physical activity was 43 (19; 67) cpm higher for each unit increase in weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) and 72 (36; 108) cpm higher for each centimetre increase in MUAC. Whole-blood DHA on admission was also a positive predictor of physical activity, whereas duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation were both negative predictors. CONCLUSION: The level of physical activity at discharge among children treated for SAM was low. WHZ, MUAC and DHA on admission were positive predictors of physical activity, whereas duration of stabilisation and hospitalisation was negative predictors of physical activity. These results suggest that assessment of physical activity may be used as a marker of recovery.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level and predictors of physical activity at discharge among children recovering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). METHODS: We conducted a prospective study among 69 children 6-59 months of age admitted with SAM for nutritional rehabilitation at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. Using hip-mounted triaxial accelerometers, we measured physical activity expressed as counts per minute (cpm) during the last three days of hospital treatment. As potential predictors, we assessed clinical and background characteristics, duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation, serum C-reactive protein and whole-blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of physical activity. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age was 15.5 (12.6; 20.5) months. At discharge, the mean (SD) movement was 285 (126) cpm. Physical activity was 43 (19; 67) cpm higher for each unit increase in weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) and 72 (36; 108) cpm higher for each centimetre increase in MUAC. Whole-blood DHA on admission was also a positive predictor of physical activity, whereas duration to transition phase and duration of hospitalisation were both negative predictors. CONCLUSION: The level of physical activity at discharge among children treated for SAM was low. WHZ, MUAC and DHA on admission were positive predictors of physical activity, whereas duration of stabilisation and hospitalisation was negative predictors of physical activity. These results suggest that assessment of physical activity may be used as a marker of recovery.
Authors: Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen; Kristina Beck Hansen; Vincent T van Hees; Line Brinch Christensen; Tsinuel Girma; Henrik Friis; Søren Brage Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2014-03-20 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Alessandra Prioreschi; Ken K Ong; Emanuella De Lucia Rolfe; Kate Westgate; Lisa K Micklesfield; Soren Brage Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2022-05-25