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Abstract
Background: Fetal malnutrition (FM) is a clinical condition resulting from failure of the fetus to acquire adequate amounts of subcutaneous fat and muscle mass during its intrauterine life, with short and long term implications. Aim of the work: As the diagnosis of FM is essentially clinical, the aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of FM using the Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status (CANS) score, compare the results with the classic anthropometric parameters and investigate FM impacts on early neonatal morbidities. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional population of full-term and preterm infants was studied between November 2016 and June 2017 (n = 301). Early neonatal morbidities were detected within the first week of life for a subgroup of this population who required NICU admission. The CANS score was evaluated for all infants enrolled in the study within 48 hours of birth. Moreover, Body mass index (BMI), Ponderal Index (PI), and Mid-Upper-Arm Circumference/Head Circumference ratio (MUAC/HC) were calculated, with FM cutoff values of CANS score <25, BMI <11.2 kg/m2, PI <2.2 g/cm3 and MUAC/HC < 0.27. Results: Using the CANS score, BMI, PI, and MUAC/HC, the prevalence rate of FM for the studied population was 29.9%, 23.26%, 16.61%, and 13.95%, respectively. Other extensive and verifiable results were also obtained. Conclusions: It is worthy to identify all newborns with FM as early as possible after birth due to the risks they may have in the short and long term. The CANS score allows a better identification of nutritional status of infants than only using the classic anthropometric parameters