Body mass index and its effect on outcome in children after lung transplantation.

TLDR: The incidence of underweight status amongst pediatric lung transplant recipients with CF is high, however, a significant negative effect of under Weight body habitus on survival in CF children after lung transplantation is not found.

Abstract: Background Malnutrition is common in children undergoing lung transplantation, particularly among those with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the effect of body habitus on outcome after pediatric lung transplantation is unknown. We studied body mass index (BMI) and its effect on outcome in pediatric lung transplantation. Methods The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry on Pediatric Lung Transplantation was queried for primary pediatric lung transplant recipients (aged 2 ; thinness grade 2, 16 to 2 ; thinness grade 1, 17 to 2 ; normal, 18.5 to 2 ; overweight, 25 to 2 ; and obese,≥30 kg/m 2 . Survival was compared among BMI cohorts within CF and non-CF recipient groups. Results Included were 897 recipients. The median age at transplantation was 14 years (interquartile, 11, 16 years) and 63% had CF. The incidence of thinness was 59% in CF vs 39% in non-CF patients ( p p = 0.002). Conclusion The incidence of underweight status amongst pediatric lung transplant recipients with CF is high. However, we did not find a significant negative effect of underweight body habitus on survival in CF children after lung transplantation. Overweight pediatric recipients appear to have poorer survival after transplant.