Gerasimidis et al developed the Paediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) to evaluate a pediatric patient in the hospital for malnutrition. The authors are from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and NHS Grampian. Yorkhill is a district in Glasgow and where the Royal Hospital for Sick Children is located.
Parameters:
(1) body mass index (BMI)
(2) recent weight loss (unintential weight loss, loose clothes, poor weight gain if < 2 years old)
(3) reduced intake for at least 1 week
(4) impact of recent admission condition on nutrition for the next week
Parameter
Finding
Points
body mass index
>= cutoff for age and gender
0
< cutoff for age and gender
2
recent weight loss
no
0
yes
1
reduced intake
no
0
decreased
1
no or minimal intake
2
impact of condition
none
0
some
1
marked
2
where:
• A condition may impact nutrition by decreased intake, increase loss and/or increased requirements.
• The BMI cutoff for an infant is not stated. In the implementation the cutoff for 1 year will be used.
Age
Cutoff BMI Male
Cutoff BMI Female
1
15.0
15.0
2
14.5
14.0
3
14.0
13.5
4
13.5
13.5
5
13.5
13.0
6
13.5
13.0
7
13.5
13.0
8
13.5
13.0
9
13.5
13.0
10
14.0
13.5
11
14.0
14.0
12
14.5
14.5
13
15.0
15.0
14
15.5
15.5
15
16.0
16.0
16
16.5
16.5
17
17.0
17.0
18
17.0
17.0
total score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 7
• The higher the score the greater the risk of malnutrition.
Total Score
Repeat Score in
Dietitian Consult
0
in 1 week
no
1
in 3 days
yes
2 to 7
in 1 week
no
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