NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN WITH BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR USING BODY MASS INDEX

Abstract

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of children with beta thalassemia major using body mass index

Study design: Cross sectional study

Place of study & Duration of the Study: Thalassemia care center in District Badin from January to July, 2025

Methodology: A total of 101 children (0-18 Years) of either with beta thalassemia major. Weight was measured using a digital weighing machine, while height was measured using a wall-mounted stadiometer. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in square meters. The BMI Percentile Calculator for children and adolescents" Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)" was utilized to calculate the percentiles of BMI. The calculated BMI values were plotted on age and sex-specific CDC BMI charts, The nutritional status of the participants was categorized based on BMI percentiles as follows: less than 5th percentile (underweight), 5th–84th percentile (healthy weight), 85th-94th percentile (overweight), and equal to or greater than the 95th percentile (obesity). The BMI values were plotted on age- and sex-specific CDC charts. SPSS 26 was used to analyze the data. Mean and standard deviations were computed for quantitative variables and frequency and percentages were computed for qualitative variables. Nutritional status of major beta thalassemia children was also compared with respect of age groups, gender, duration of disease and residential status. The statistically significant level < 0.05 was considered.

Results: 69 (68%) of the children had age more than 10 years. 55 (54.4%) were male and 46 (45.5%) were female. Most the patients had during of disease less than 5 years 70 (69%), 22 (22.2%) had between 5 to 10 years and 9 (8.8%) had > 10 years.

Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of underweight in children with thalassemia.