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Original article

The correlation between nutritional status and diet quality with acute respiratory infections in preschool children aged 5 to 7 years

By
Melika Melunović Orcid logo ,
Melika Melunović
Contact Melika Melunović

Paediatrics Department, Novo Sarajevo Health Centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Belma Krdžalić-Zečević ,
Belma Krdžalić-Zečević

Paediatrics Department, Centre Health Centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mirela Lisičić-Konaković ,
Mirela Lisičić-Konaković

Paediatrics Department, Ilidža Health Centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amela Kulašević ,
Amela Kulašević

Paediatrics Department, Ilidža Health Centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lejla Kurtalić
Lejla Kurtalić

Department of Family Medicine, Novi Grad Health Centre; The Public Institution Health Centre of Sarajevo Canton, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Aim To investigate the relationship between nutritional status (NS) and diet quality (DQ) with the frequency of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children aged 5 to 7 years.
Methods Data were obtained through questionnaires. Anthropometric measurement, correlations between body mass index (BMI) and DQ with frequency of ARIs were analysed.
Results A total of 129 children with an average age of 72.2±4.2 months were examined. Mal-nourished children had a 3.4 times higher probability of ARIs (OR=3.449; p=0.025, 95% CI=0.109-29.049) and a 5.6 times higher probability of bronchopneumonia compared to those with normal weight (OR=5.643; p=0.049, 95% CI=0.874-36.434). There was a significant positive association between the consumption of meat and meat products with bronchitis (p=0.030; OR 9.921; 95% CI -1.252, +78.610) and a significant negative relationship between the consumption of cooked meals and ARIs in total (p=0.015; OR 0.046; 95% CI -0.004, +0.552). Unexpectedly, a significant positive association was found between the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and some respiratory infections, which needs to be verified with additional analyses.
Conclusion DQ and NS are associated with the frequency of ARIs in preschool children. Additional analyses are needed with a larger number of participants in order to form more precise conclusions.

Citation

Funding Statement

No specific funding was received for this study.

Authors retain copyright. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License

 

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