Parameters:
(1) number of days in time interval
(2) body weight in kilograms at beginning of the interval
(3) body weight in kilograms at the end of the interval
change in weight over time interval in grams =
= ((weight at end of interval in kilograms) - (weight at beginning of interval in kilograms)) * 1000
average daily change in weight in grams per day over time interval =
= (change in weight over interval in grams) / (number of days in interval)
weight gain in g per kg body weight per day =
= (change in weight in grams per day) / (average body weight in kilograms)
where:
• The method uses the "average body weight". This could either be based on the beginning and ending weights, or on the daily body weights, or on the child's preillness weight.
|
Weight Gain
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Interpretation
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< 5 g/kg/day
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poor
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|
5 - 10 g/kg/day
|
moderate (fair)
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|
> 10 g/kg/day
|
good
|
The therapeutic regimen should be reviewed if the weight gain is poor, both for calculations and compliance.
For Bhan et al the endpoint is reaching a weight for height that is 90% of the national median (50th percentile).
