SAM: Discharge Based on the Use of a MUAC-based Criterion to

Comparison of patient characteristics and treatment outcomes was conducted between two groups: 1) children discharged as recovered from September 2007 to March 2009 with at least 15% of their weight at admission (Period A); and 2) children discharged as recovered from April 2009 to December 2011 with MUAC ≥ 124 mm (Period B).

A total of 50,841 children were admitted with MUAC ≤ 118 mm to the MSF therapeutic feeding program and were included in this analysis: 24,792 children in Period A (2007-2009) and 26,049 children in Period B (2009-2011).

Overall, 89% of admissions were directly into outpatient care and the majority (53%) entered with a MUAC 116-118mm; 48% of children were male and 80% of children < 2 years of age (Table 1).

Compared to children admitted in Period A, children admitted in Period B were statistically more likely to be female, younger, and of better anthropometric status (e.g. higher mean MUAC, WHZ and HAZ).

There was a greater proportion of children admitted directly to inpatient care in Period B than in Period A (10.6% vs 8.0%).

Inclusion criteria

• 6 to 59 months old
• presence of bipedal pitting edema or MUAC ≤ 118 mm

Exclusion criteria

• < 6 months old or > 59 months old
• absence of bipedal pitting edema or MUAC ≥ 118 mm