Factors Associated with Body Mass Index in Children with Acute Leukemia: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Acute leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy, and nutritional status plays a critical role in treatment outcomes and survival. Children with leukemia frequently experience nutritional complications due to the disease itself and the intensive chemotherapy regimens required for treatment. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of children with acute leukemia by evaluating body mass index (BMI) and identifying associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 children aged 1 - 6 years diagnosed with acute leukemia. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, and anthropometric measurements were collected. BMI z-scores were calculated using World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent t-tests to examine associations between BMI z-scores and various factors. The mean age was 44.56 months (Standard deviation (SD) = 15.16). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was diagnosed with 75% of participants. Nutritional status varied considerably: 21.7% were underweight, 43.3% had healthy weight, 15% were at risk of being overweight, and 20% were overweight/obese. The mean BMI z-score was -0.079 (SD = 2.52). Age group was significantly associated with BMI z-score (p = 0.012), with younger children showing higher z-scores. No significant associations were found with gender, residence, parental education, socioeconomic status (SES), or leukemia type. Only 10% of children received nutritionist followup. Children with acute leukemia demonstrate diverse nutritional profiles, with both undernutrition and overnutrition present. Age-related differences in nutritional status warrant attention in clinical management and nutritional support programs.