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NCT Number: NCT07830966

Assessment of Nutritional Status in Critically Ill Children in PICU

This prospective cohort study aims to assess the nutritional status of critically ill children aged 1 month to 5 years admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit using a comprehensive ABCD approach including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary assessment within 48 hours of admission, and to evaluate its association with clinical outcomes including duration of mechanical ventilation, length of PICU stay, and mortality.

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Key information

Conditions

Malnutrition Critical Illness Disease Attributes Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

1 month–5 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

Malnutrition is common among critically ill children in PICU with prevalence around 37 percent. This study will include children admitted to PICU at Assiut University Children Hospital with expected stay greater than 48 hours. Nutritional status will be assessed within 48 hours using anthropometric measurements weight height body mass index mid-upper arm circumference skinfold thickness, biochemical markers albumin prealbumin total protein C-reactive protein electrolytes, clinical examination for muscle and fat loss, and dietary intake. Children will be followed up to 30 days for clinical outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age from 1 month to 5 years
  • Admitted to PICU with expected length of stay greater than 48 hours
  • Written informed consent from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion criteria

  • Chronic renal or hepatic disease known to affect serum protein levels
  • Incomplete medical records or discharged or transferred before first laboratory sample could be obtained
  • Receiving nutritional support enteral or parenteral prior to PICU admission for condition unrelated to current critical illness

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Nutritional status at PICU admission assessed by ABCD approach

    Time frame: At baseline within 48 hours of admission

    Number of children classified as malnourished based on comprehensive ABCD assessment including anthropometric measurements body mass index z-score mid-upper arm circumference skinfold thickness, biochemical markers albumin prealbumin total protein, clinical signs of muscle and fat loss, and dietary intake, obtained within 48 hours of PICU admission

Secondary outcomes

  1. Duration of mechanical ventilation

    Time frame: Up to 30 days

    Length of mechanical ventilation in days

  2. Length of PICU stay

    Time frame: Up to 30 days

    Length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit in days

  3. PICU mortality

    Time frame: Up to 30 days

    Number of children who die during PICU stay

  4. Feeding intolerance and refeeding syndrome

    Time frame: Up to 30 days

    Number of children who develop feeding intolerance or refeeding syndrome during PICU stay

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Merna A Felly, Resident

CONTACT

[email protected]

+20 15 51377917

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Assiut University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Practical Approach for Identifying Malnutrition and Its Relation to Outcome in Critically Ill Children: A Prospective Cohort Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 21, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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