Response to Malnutrition Treatment in Low Weight-for-Age Children: Secondary Analyses of Children 6-59 Months in the ComPAS Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) is not currently an admission criterion to therapeutic feeding programs, and children with low WAZ at high risk of mortality may not be admitted. We conducted a secondary analysis of RCT data to assess response to treatment according to WAZ and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and type of feeding protocol given: a simplified, combined protocol for severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM) vs. standard care that treats SAM and MAM, separately. Children with a moderately low MUAC (11.5–12.5 cm) and a severely low WAZ (&lt
−3) respond similarly to treatment in terms of both weight and MUAC gain on either 2092 kJ (500 kcal)/day of therapeutic or supplementary food. Children with a severely low MUAC (&lt
11.5 cm), with/without a severely low WAZ (&lt
−3), have similar recovery with the combined protocol or standard treatment, though WAZ gain may be slower in the combined protocol. A limitation is this analysis was not powered for these sub-groups specifically. Adding WAZ &lt
−3 as an admission criterion for therapeutic feeding programs admitting children with MUAC and/or oedema may help programs target high-risk children who can benefit from treatment. Future work should evaluate the optimal treatment protocol for children with a MUAC &lt
11.5 and/or WAZ &lt
−3.0.