Association between Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Anthropometric Status in Cerebral Palsy (CP) Children in Kelantan

Objective: To determine the association between gross motor function and anthropometric status in children with cerebral palsy (CP) residing in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 children (ages 4-12 years, mean age was 8.7 2.4 years, 59.4% male and 40.6% female) with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) in Kelantan, Malaysia. The gross motor function of children was evaluated by applying the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS, level I to V). Anthropometric status was evaluated and classified according to World Health Organization growth charts through z-score. The association between GMFCS and anthropometric status was evaluated.

Results and Discussion: A total of 7.5%, 6.6%, 8.5%, 10.4% and 67.0% CP children classified in levels I to V respectively. Based on the weight for age z-score classification (WFA), 87.3% of CP children were severely underweight. In addition, 56.3% was severely stunted and 74.6% was severely wasted according to height for age (HFA) and BMI for age z-score classification (BMI/A). Malnutrition was significantly more common among CP children with severe motor impairments. A strong association was found between GMFCS and anthropometric status in children with CP for WFA, HFA and BMI/A z-score classification.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is a prevalent condition among paediatric patients with CP and associated with higher levels of gross motor dysfunction. Appropriate nutritional interventions especially focusing on dietary management have to be conducted for CP children for improvement of their nutritional status and quality of life (QOL).