Skip to main content

Table 4 Correlates of change in thymus size from admission to discharge and to follow-up among children treated for severe acute malnutritiona

From: Correlates of thymus size and changes during treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition: a cohort study

 

To discharge

To follow-up

nb

β (95%CI)

p

nb

β (95% CI)

p

Female sex

47

0.00 (−0.30;0.31)

0.98

34

−0.06 (−0.65; 0.53)

0.84

Age, months

47

0.01 (−0.01; 0.03)

0.40

34

- 0.02 (−0.06; 0.01)

0.19

Days from admission

47

0.02 (−0.01; 0.04)

0.21

34

0.00 (−0.04; 0.05)

0.94

Clinical data, admission

 Edema present

47

−0.14 (−0.50;0.23)

0.46

34

−0.34 (−0.97; 0.29)

0.28

 HIV infected

46

0.09 (−0.38; 0.55)

0.71

33

0.35 (−0.60; 1.31)

0.45

 Still breastfeeding

43

0.08 (−0.38;0.54)

0.71

31

0.25 (−0.66; 1.17)

0.58

 How sick according to caretakerc

46

0.04 (−0.05; 0.13)

0.35

34

0.07 (−0.13;0.28)

0.46

Physical examination, admission

 Temperature >37.5°

46

0.01 (−0.43; 0.45)

0.96

34

0.10 (−0.66; 0.86)

0.79

 Capillary refill time, sec

45

−0.05 (−0.24; 0.14)

0.62

32

0.14 (−0.34; 0.62)

0.55

 Able to complete first feed

44

−0.04 (−0.40; 0.32)

0.81

31

0.35 (−0.45; 1.15))

0.37

Blood chemistry, admission

 C-reactive protein >5 mg/L

38

0.36 (−0.07; 0.79)

0.10

26

−0.22 (−1.16; 0.72)

0.63

 α1-acid glycoprotein, g/L

38

0.03 (−0.24; 0.31)

0.81

26

−0.60 (−1.12; −0.08)

0.03

 Hemoglobin, g/dL

46

0.08 (0.01; 0.15)

0.02

33

−0.00 (−0.14; 0.13)

0.95

 Inorganic phosphate, mmol/L

46

0.16 (−0.34; 0.66)

0.52

33

0.12 (−1.01; 1.24)

0.83

Anthropometric growth in same period

 Weight gain rate, kg/dayd

47

5.77 (−1.20; 12.74)

0.10

34

14.02 (−8.12; 36.15)

0.21

 Δ mid-upper arm circumference, cm

46

0.20 (0.05;0.36)

0.01

23

0.29 (0.04; 0.54)

0.03

 Δ weight-for-length z-scored

47

−0.02 (−0.20; 0.17)

0.87

34

0.08 (−0.19; 0.34)

0.57

 Δ weight-for-age z-scored

47

0.08 (−0.25; 0.41)

0.62

34

0.22 (−0.20; 0.63)

0.30

Observations and treatments given during admission

 Diarrhea observed

47

- 0.10 (−0.44; 0.25)

0.58

34

0.10 (−0.52; 0.71)

0.75

 Rice porridge given

46

−0.11 (−0.42; 0.19)

0.47

33

−0.67 (−1.28; −0.05)

0.03

 Naso-gastric tube used

47

−0.08 (−0.44; 0.28)

0.67

34

−0.25 (−0.92; 0.42)

0.46

  1. aData shown are regression coefficients of linear regression analysis of change in thymus size (Δ thymus size) adjusted for thymus size on admission, days since admission, age and sex. Children with invisible thymus on admission were assumed to have thymus area = 1 cm2; Interpretation of e.g. β = 0.20 means a 0.20 cm2 further increase in thymus size per unit increase in exposure variable; Associations are considered significant when p < 0.05
  2. bn = number of children in whom data is available
  3. cEvaluated on a visual analogue scale from 1 to 10
  4. dWeight gain = present weight – lowest weight during admission, to account for loos of oedema
Back to article page

BMC Pediatrics

ISSN: 1471-2431

Contact us