Risk factors for inpatient mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Malnutrition underlies 45% of deaths in children under-5 years annually. Children hospitalised with complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have unacceptably high mortality. We aimed to identify variables from early hospital admission (baseline factors) independently associated with inpatient mortality in this cohort to identify those most at risk.

Subjects/methods

Observational study of 745 children aged 0-59 months admitted with complicated SAM at three hospitals in Zimbabwe/Zambia. Children underwent anthropometry and clinical assessment by a study physician within 72 h of enrolment, and caregivers provided sociodemographic data. Children were followed-up daily until discharge/death. A multivariable survival analysis identified the baseline facto

SUBMITTER: Sturgeon JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10473959 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature