Nutritional Status Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Presenting At A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent childhood physical disability and it has a high association rate with poor nutritional status among children with CP, which is associated with increased energy expenditure, feeding difficulties, and motor impairment. Malnutrition has a negative impact on growth, immunity and on quality of life. Objective: To determine nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) presenting at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a Cross-sectional study that was carried out at Department of Pediatrics, PGMI / Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. from November 2024 to April 2025. 158 children (aged 5-16 years) with clinically diagnosed, Weight and height/length were measured. Body mass index (BMI)-for-age z scores were calculated with WHO AnthroPlus software. Nutritional status was defined as obese (>+2 SD), normal (−2 to +2 SD), moderate malnutrition (−3 to −2 SD) and severe malnutrition (<−3 SD). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The relationship of nutritional status with the demographic and clinical parameters was evaluated by chi-square test and p<0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: A total of 158 children were enrolled of whom 48.7% were of normal nutritional status, 22.8% were moderately malnourished, 25.3% severely malnourished and 3.2% obese. The mean BMI-for-age z-score was −1.87 ± 1.62. Spastic quadriplegia (p=0.001), lower SES (p=0.012), and rural residence (p=0.034) were significantly associated with severe malnutrition. Conclusions: Malnutrition is very common among CP children, with almost half being in moderate to severe malnutrition. In order to enhance growth, nutritional status and long term health outcomes, routine nutritional screening, early dietary intervention and multi-disciplinary management are crucial in this vulnerable population.