Assessment of Nutritional Status Using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference Z-Score in Children With Cerebral Palsy

NCT07351695 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CP-220086
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Children with cerebral palsy are at increased risk of malnutrition due to motor impairment, feeding difficulties, and chronic health problems. Accurate assessment of nutritional status in this population can be challenging, particularly when standard anthropometric measurements are difficult to obtain. This observational study aims to evaluate nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy using the mid-upper arm circumference Z-score (MUACZ) and to examine its relationship with functional severity levels. Anthropometric measurements and clinical data will be collected during routine outpatient visits. Nutritional status will be classified using predefined reference standards, and associations with motor and feeding function classifications will be analyzed. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of practical approaches for nutritional assessment in children with cerebral palsy across different ages and functional levels.

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy (CP); Malnutrition in Children

Keywords

Cerebral palsy; Child nutrition disorders; Anthropometry; Body Mass Index; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Malnutrition; Motor Activity; Nutritional Status

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Prevalence of undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy

  Undernutrition status will be determined using predefined anthropometric Z-score criteria. Undernutrition is defined as the presence of wasting (body mass index-for-age Z-score ≤ -2) and/or stunting (height-for-age Z-score ≤ -2), based on standardized growth references.

  At study enrollment (single assessment during routine outpatient visit).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Distribution of nutritional status across functional severity levels

  At study enrollment.

• Association between MUACZ and functional severity classifications

  At study enrollment.

• Performance of MUACZ in identifying undernutrition

  At study enrollment.

Study Arms (1)

Cerebral Palsy

This observational study includes a single cohort of pediatric patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Participants are enrolled during routine outpatient follow-up visits at a tertiary care center. Within the cohort, participants are categorized according to nutritional status based on predefined anthropometric criteria and according to functional severity using established classification systems. No separate control group is included. Comparisons are performed within the cohort across nutritional status categories and functional severity levels to evaluate distributions and associations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Months - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy who are followed at a tertiary referral center. Participants are recruited during routine outpatient follow-up visits and represent a wide spectrum of motor and feeding functional severity. The population includes patients across all levels of gross motor function and eating and drinking ability, allowing evaluation of nutritional status across varying degrees of functional impairment. Anthropometric and clinical data are collected as part of standard care, without any modification to routine clinical management. This population reflects a real-world clinical setting in which nutritional assessment is routinely performed in children with cerebral palsy, including those with severe motor and feeding limitations.

You may qualify if:

• Children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy
• Age between 18 months and 18 years at the time of assessment
• Attendance at routine outpatient follow-up at the study center during the study period
• Availability of anthropometric measurements required for nutritional assessment
• Availability of functional classification using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and/or the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS)
• Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of acute illness or infection at the time of assessment that could interfere with anthropometric measurements
• Known genetic syndromes or metabolic disorders affecting growth independently of cerebral palsy
• Incomplete clinical or anthropometric data preventing classification of nutritional status
• Previous major surgery or hospitalization within a period that could significantly influence nutritional measurements (as determined by the treating clinician)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Research and Training Hospital

Menteşe, Muğla, 48000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy; Child Nutrition Disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Malnutrition; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Damage, Chronic; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Faculty Member

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2026
• First Posted: January 20, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2025
• Study Completion: January 30, 2025
• Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Beginning 6 months after publication of the primary results and ending 5 years following publication.
• Access Criteria: Individual participant data will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Requests will be reviewed by the corresponding author and require approval from the relevant institutional and/or ethics committees, where applicable. Data will be shared in de-identified form to protect participant privacy, and access may require a data use agreement specifying the intended use of the data.

Locations

TU (1)