P1021 - EFFECT OF HOSPITAL STAY ON QUADRICEPS FEMORIS THICKNESS IN HOSPITALIZED ONCOLOGY CHILDREN

P1021

EFFECT OF HOSPITAL STAY ON QUADRICEPS FEMORIS THICKNESS IN HOSPITALIZED ONCOLOGY CHILDREN

M. Lizárraga-Estrada^1,*, A. D. García-Guzmán², S. N. Becerra-Morales¹, X. M. Torreblanca-García², M. Salvador-Quezada¹, L. Velasco-Hidalgo², D. D. Baldwin-Monroy³, A. Gutiérrez-Hernández³, M. Guevara-Cruz⁴, M. L. Díaz-García¹, I. Medina-Vera¹

¹Departamento de Metodología de la Investigación, ²Servicio de Oncología Médica, ³Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, ⁴Departamento de Fisiología de la Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico

Rationale: Physical inactivity, inadequate calorie and protein intake, and illness-related catabolism can contribute to muscle depletion among hospitalized children, especially in chronic deseases such as cancer; contributing to poor quality of life (QoL), increasing morbidity and morttality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hospital stay on changes in quadriceps femoris (QF) thickness in hospitalized pediatric oncology patients.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on pediatric oncology inpatients aged 6-18 years. QF thickness assessed by Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was evaluated at hospital admission up to hospital discharge. Other factors including medical history, nutritional status, diet, and body composition via bioelectrical impedance (BIA) were also assessed.

Results: A total of 52 patients were included in the study (58.1% boys, 11+3 y). On day 7 of hospital stay there was a mean decrease in QF thickness of -0.8+2.6 mm, (p=0.038) and -1.2+3 mm (p=0,003) at discharge, with a median hospital length of stay of 9 (6-11) days. Changes in QF thickness were independent of changes in body weight (p=0.121) but decrease in free fat mass was observed at discharge (34.3+13 vs 33+13 kg, p=0.003). Strong correlations between POCUS measurments, total skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (r=0.601; p<0.001) and leg SMM (r=0.603; p=0.002) were also found. 

Conclusion: QF thickness decreases during hospitalization in pediatric oncology patients regardless of body weight loss. Additionally, POCUS can be a reliable tool for assessing total skeletal muscle mass. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared