Nutritional monitoring of Down Syndrome patients assisted by a pediatric clinic
DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.200933.3.10
Keywords:
Down Syndrome. Anthropometry. Nutrition Assessment.Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition that affects about 18% of the population with intellectual compromising. Annually it affects
about 8 thousand Brazilian babies. These babies present a variety of complications that makes them more vulnerable to diseases. The inexistence
of specific and national anthropometric parameters for all ages makes it difficult to evaluate weight and stature development, identify risk factors
and adequately choosing nutritional therapy to this population. This work aims to define these patients anthropometric profile comparing results
of two sets of reference parameters used for classifying the nutritional condition of individuals with DS. This research evaluated 350 children with
DS, both female and male, with ages from 0 to 11 years assisted by a pediatric clinic from São Paulo City on the basis of data registered in clinical
histories. Nutritional diagnosis was determined according growth curves proposed by two sets of reference parameters. Most anthropometric variables
presented higher values for male subjects in both reference parameters. Considering weight and stature/age, we perceived that the use of
the international standard reveals a greater number of euthrophic individuals. Comparing results of the two standards, the classification of weight
deficit and low stature correlated to age according to Brazil’s standard revealed a double percentage of lower weight and low stature subjects. New
studies on weight / stature curves, Body Mass Index, folds and perimeters are necessary for higher precision in nutritional diagnosis. Nutritional
evaluation and intervention are vital to guarantee longevity with quality.