Growth and Dietary Intake Assessment of Children With Chronic Renal Failure During Predialysis Management
■ Objective: To assess the growth and dietary intake of children with chronic renal failure during predialysis management. ■ Design: Anthropometric and nutrition intake screening. ■ Setting: Pediatric nephrology clinic serving a low socioeconomic-level Brazilian population. ■ Participants: 14 children (8 male, 6 female); age range, 3 months to 12 years, 9 months; creatinine clearance range, .32 to.85 mL/s/1.73 m 2 (19 to 51 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). ■ Main outcome measures: Weight, height, arm circumference, and computerized nutritional analysis from 3-day food intake diary. ■ Results: Waterlow classification indicated 3 cases of wasting, 9 of stunting, and 2 of stunting and wasting; weight/age ratio below the 10th percentile in 12 cases; caloric intake 57% below and protein 92.8% above recommendations. ■ Conclusion: There is an immediate need to begin a nutritional therapy and growth assessment program for children with CRF in Brazil.