Article

The assessment of growth and body composition is challenging in children
with cerebral palsy (CP).
The aim of this study was to compare clinical
assessments of body composition with measurements obtained using dual-energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in this population. METHOD:
Knee height, weight, and
triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness (SFT) were measured in 47 children
with CP (age range 8-18y; 18 females, 29 males). Height was estimated from knee
height, and used to calculate body mass index (BMI). Using SFT measurements, body
fat percentage was calculated by standard ('Slaughter') and CP-modified ('Gurka')
equations and compared with results obtained using DXA. RESULTS: Children with
severe gross motor function impairments (Gross Motor Function Classification
System [GMFCS] level III or IV) exhibited stunted growth and had higher fat
percentages and lower lean body mass than children classified in GMFCS level I or
II. In 10 children classified as 'thin' according to their BMI (five of whom were
assigned thinness grade of 2 or lower), percentage of body fat, as determined by
DXA, was normal or high. The Slaughter equations significantly underestimated
body fat percentages, whereas the precision of the CP-modified Gurka equations
was excellent. INTERPRETATION: In this study, children with CP and severe motor
impairments displayed stunted growth, but were not undernourished. Relying solely
upon BMIs may be misleading in children with CP. Therefore, clinicians should be
encouraged to measure SFT and to calculate body fat percentages using the
CP-modified version of the Slaughter equation.
- Norvège
CI - (c) 2015 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS