Long-term outcomes of severe childhood malnutrition study
Loading...
Date
7-07-21
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciencies
Abstract
Type of research study
This study is a cross-sectional follow-up of an existing cohort of adolescents/young adults who
suffered from severe malnutrition as children.
The problem
Childhood malnutrition is widespread in Malawi and has health impacts which are often life long 1.
Severe wasting in childhood is particularly deadly 2, and the ‘double burden of malnutrition’
(undernutrition of nutritionally rich foods and oversupply of foods with low nutritional value) is being
increasingly recognised as a major health problem globally 3. Current malnutrition treatment
programmes have a major focus on preventing acute mortality. While the acute risk of death in early
childhood is well described, there is a need for further research on the medium- and long-term
outcomes of survivors to understand the long-term disease burden and tailor treatment
interventions 4. Children exposed to severe malnutrition may be at higher risk of adult noncommunicable
diseases due to impaired organ development, altered body composition, rapid catchup
growth through high calorie feeding and exposure to an obesogenic environment. Severe
childhood malnutrition is also associated with developmental delay 5, and early insults to the
developing brain from malnutrition may impair cognitive potential in later life 6. Mental health and
behavioural problems may be also be more common in survivors due to damage to the developing
brain, environmental factors and adverse life events 7. However, mental health and behavioural
outcomes in severe malnutrition have been poorly researched thus far.
Objectives
Our main objective is to investigate factors that influence the medium- and long-term health
outcomes of children with severe childhood malnutrition.
We aim:
1. To quantify the long-term survival after discharge from treatment for severe childhood
malnutrition in comparison to controls
2. To measure long-term growth and body composition following severe childhood
malnutrition
3. To measure the prevalence of early markers of chronic cardiovascular or metabolic disease
in those previously treated for severe childhood malnutrition in comparison to controls
4. To measure the effect of severe childhood malnutrition on cognition, behaviour and mental
health
5. To explore predictors of favourable or adverse long-term health outcomes