Serum zinc levels and associated factors in children with nephrotic syndrome at Vietnam National Children Hospital
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study evaluated serum zinc levels and associated factors in 113 children (aged 5 - 17 years old) with nephrotic syndrome (NS) treated at the Vietnam National Children Hospital. Results showed that most patients were male (76.1%), lived in rural areas (74.3%), and 30.1% had stunting. Among 89 children tested, 68.5% had zinc deficiency, including mild (43.8%), moderate (21.3%), and severe (3.4%) deficiency. Zinc deficiency was most common in the 5 - 10 years old age group (89.1%) and in stunted children, with 100% of severely stunted patients being zinc-deficient. Statistical analysis indicated that serum zinc deficiency was significantly associated with disease stage and nutritional status by height-for-age, but not with disease duration. The findings suggest that zinc deficiency is highly prevalent in children with NS, highlighting the need for timely screening, zinc supplementation, and nutritional interventions to improve prognosis and optimize treatment outcomes in this patient population.
Article Details
Keywords
Nephrotic syndrome, children, zinc deficiency, nutrition
References
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