Body composition in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia predicted from bioelectric impedance and anthropometric variables: Comparison with a reference dual X-ray absorptiometry

Summary Since children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia often suffer from malnutrition and growth failure, evaluation of body composition is a very important tool to nutritional support. The aim of this study was to compare assessment of fat-mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM), evaluated by bio-impedancemetry and anthropometry compared to dual-X-ray-absorptiometry (DXA) in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Patients Seventy-one children, aged 4–8 years, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia were enrolled. Methods FM and FFM measured using anthropometry and bio-impedancemetry were compared to FM and FFM obtained by DXA using the Bland–Altman method. Results Both bio-impedancemetry and anthropometry gave good agreement with DXA to evaluate FM and FFM. Anthropometry method, in general, slightly under-estimated FM (mean difference: −0.02 kg, standard deviation: 0.99) and FFM (mean difference : −0.70 kg±1.72). Bio-impedancemetry method overestimated FM (mean difference: 0.34 kg±2.06) and underestimated FFM (mean difference: −1.24 kg±3.32). Conclusion In children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia aged, 4–8 years, both anthropometry and bio-impedancemetry cannot be used to precisely evaluate body composition.