The Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status Score can be used to evaluate a neonate for evidence of fetal malnutrition.
Sites clinically evaluated:
(1) hair
(2) cheeks
(3) neck and chin
(4) arms
(5) legs
(6) back
(7) buttocks
(8) chest
(9) abdomen
Each area is graded from 4 (normal) to 1 (malnutrition).
Site |
Grade 4 |
Grade 1 |
---|---|---|
hair |
thick, smooth, silky, easily groomed |
straing, hair with depigmented stripe (flag sign) |
cheeks |
full buccal pads and round face |
minimal buccal fat with narrow, flat face |
neck and chin |
double or triple chin fat fold, neck not evident |
thin chin, no fat fold, neck very evident with loose and wrinkled skin |
arms |
full, round, no loose skin |
"accordion" folding, loose skin, easily grasped and pulled away |
legs |
full, round, no loose skin |
"accordion" folding, loose skin, easily grasped and pulled away |
back |
difficult to grasp and lift skin in the interscapular area |
loose skin that is easily lifted |
buttocks |
full, round gluteal fat pads |
minimal gluteal fat, loose and deeply wrinkled skin |
chest |
full, round, with no visible ribs |
prominent ribs, loss of intercostals tissue |
abdomen |
full, round, without loose skin |
distended or scaphoid, very loose skin, wrinkled skin, "accordion" folds |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 9 areas)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 9 (significant fetal malnutrition)
• maximum score: 36 (normal)
• When comparing values, the presence of scores at both extremes (1 or 4) should prompt reassessment.
Specialty: Nutrition, Pedatrics
ICD-10: ,