Nutritional Status of Children with Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Aim: To analyze the nutritional status of children with pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at presentation. Study design: Descriptive prospective study Place and duration of study: Department of Paediatric Haematology Oncology, Children Hospital, Lahore from March 2018 to April 2019. Methodology: A total of 195 children diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia on bone marrow biopsy were included. Anthropometric measurements were taken for each patient. Results: Out of 195 diagnosed patients with ALL, majority were having B-cell ALL 165(84.6%) and 30(15.4%) T-cell ALL. There was almost equal number of both standard and high risk patients (49% vs 51%) respectively. Mean age of children was 6.79 +/- 3.78 years and there was male predominance 120(61.5%). The percentage of children having weight for age <5th centile was 91(47), only 8(4%) were overweight or obese. Children under the age of five years had a slightly higher propensity of weight <5th centile i.e. 47(51.6%) as compared to older age group 5-10 years 26(28.7%) and >10 years 18(19.7%) (p=0.295). Similarly height for age was <5th centile in 50(26%) children in total, and in under 5 year age group 26(13.3%) but there was no statistically significant difference related to age above 5 years (p=0.547). Conclusion: Pediatric ALL has overall high prevalence of under nutrition and both weight for age and height for age is lower in under-five children as compared to older age group.