BIOLOGICAL RISK-FACTORS FOR FATAL PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN IN ZAIRE

Biological markers were used in an attempt to predict mortality in chi ldren admitted to the hospital in Kivu, Zaire, for protein energy maln utrition. Data for 39 children who died (16.4%) showed significantly l ower levels of albumin (1.61 vs. 2.53 g/dl; p < 0.001), transferrin (8 2.1 vs. 167.7 mg/dl; p < 0.001), and transthyretin (6.49 vs. 9.87 mg/d l; p < 0.001), but not of retinol-binding protein, than for the 199 su rvivors. Since albumin and transferrin were correlated, a Cox model wa s used to see whether albumin or transferrin has a significant predict ive value independent of transthyretin. dieted by each indicator was o f the magnitude, similar to 4. We conclude that specific biological ma rkers help to discriminate among hospitalized subjects at risk and to identify those in need of more intensive nutritional support to preven t early death.