Evaluación del estado nutricional y su relación con las funciones cognitivas de niños y adolescentes institucionalizados en las Casas Hogar Guayaquil, Infanto Juvenil Femenino e Inés Chambers de Guayaquil, 2021.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the nutritional status and its relationship with the cognitive functions of institutionalized children and adolescents in the Hogar Guayaquil, Infanto Juvenil Femenino and Inés Chambers de Guayaquil homes, 2021. It was a quantitative, observational, analytical, cross-sectional study, and field. The population was 109 children and adolescents residing in the three foster homes. An anthropometric and quality evaluation of the general menu of each home was carried out. Anthropometric indicators were weight/length, weight/age, height/age, body mass index/age, arm fat area/age, and arm muscle area/age. The quality of the diet is evaluated through the School Canteens-Frequency of Consumption (COMES-FC) questionnaire, measuring deficiency, improved, acceptable and optimal levels of the general menu offered in each home. The neuropsychological tests applied were DENVER-II, Neurocognitive Maturity Questionnaire (CUMANIN) and Reynolds Brief Intelligence Test (RIST). It was obtained that 58% of the population were women and 42% were men. At ages 0-2 years, the majority of children have an adequate weight according to the indicators weight/age (36.4%) and weight/length (54.5%); as well as severe short stature according to the length/age indicator (54.5%). The majority of the population aged 2-18 years have an adequate nutritional status according to the indicators weight/age (81.6%), height/age (84%), body mass index/age (72%), muscular area of the arm/age (51.4%) and arm fat area/age (53.3%). Two homestays obtained improvable menu quality and one homestay was acceptable. 56.3% of children aged 0-3 years have abnormal development; in ages 3-6 years, 50% have problems in cognitive development and possible disorders in neurocognitive development and 56.2% of children between 6 and 18 years have IQ considerably below average. A relationship was found between the fatty tissue area of the arm/age and global development of 2-6 years (p-value=0.04563); weight/age and arm muscle area/age with IQ, 6-18 years old (p-value=0.0002643; 39.075, p-value=0.0001023). It is concluded that the nutritional status of the population is related to cognitive functions, in the anthropometric variables of global malnutrition and body composition, in the age groups of 2-6 and 6-18 years of age; demonstrating that those individuals with low weight, excessive levels of fatty tissue area of the arm and muscle area of the arm that are below the average, present alterations in cognitive functions.