TABLE 1.
Comparison of clinical characteristics at admission in children with severe acute malnutrition1
| All (n = 79) | Recovery (n = 65) | Death (n = 14) | P2 | |
| Age, mo | 23.3 ± 11.7 | 24.7 ± 11.4 | 17.0 ± 11.2 | 0.01 |
| Female | 44/78 (56) | 34/64 (53) | 10/14 (71) | 0.3 |
| HIV reactive | 28/79 (35) | 21/65 (32) | 7/14 (50) | 0.2 |
| Kwashiorkor | 52/79 (66) | 47/65 (72) | 5/14 (36) | 0.01 |
| Weight at admission, kg | ||||
| Marasmus (n = 27) | 5.1 ± 1.0 | 5.5 ± 0.9 | 4.4 ± 0.9 | 0.02 |
| Kwashiorkor (n = 52) | 8.2 ± 2.1 | 8.8 ± 1.9 | 7.1 ± 2.6 | 0.07 |
| MUAC3 at admission, cm | ||||
| Marasmus (n = 27) | 9.7 ± 1.0 | 10.0 ± 1.0 | 9.2 ± 0.9 | 0.07 |
| Kwashiorkor (n = 52) | 12.5 ± 1.6 | 12.6 ± 1.0 | 11.3 ± 2.4 | 0.09 |
| Weight-for-height z score | ||||
| Marasmus (n = 27) | −4.9 ± 1.0 | −4.7 ± 0.8 | −5.4 ± 1.2 | 0.08 |
| Kwashiorkor (n = 51) | −2.0 ± 1.5 | −2.0 ± 1.4 | −2.6 ± 1.6 | 0.3 |
| Diarrhea on day of admission | 17/73 (23) | 11/60 (18) | 6/13 (46) | 0.03 |
| Diarrhea within 72 h of admission | 46/79 (58) | 37/65 (57) | 9/14 (64) | 0.6 |
| Anorexia | 5.1 ± 6.3 | 4.86 ± 6.3 | 6.17 ± 6.3 | 0.5 |
| Length of hospital stay, d | 10.4 ± 4.1 | 9.6 ± 6.9 | 0.5 |
1
Values are means ± SDs or n/N (%). P values were obtained with logistic regression.
2
Significant at P < 0.05.
3
MUAC, midupper arm circumference.