Body composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis and body growth in late-diagnosed vesicoureteral reflux

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate together body composition and growth in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). METHODS: The study was performed in children presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection. The patients were grouped as VUR(+) (Group 1) and VUR(-) (Group 2). A group of healthy cases formed the control group (Group 3). The patients and control cases were evaluated from respect to age, gender, body weight, height, Z-scores of weight (WZ) and height (HZ), and Weight-for-Height Index (WHI). In addition, Body Mass Index, lean body mass, body fat mass, fat-free mass, and body cell mass were measured with bioimpedance analyzer. The parameters compared among groups. RESULTS: There were 53 patients in Group 1, 27 patients in Group 2, and 20 subjects in Group 3. While age, sex, weight, and height were not different among groups, WZ and HZ score were lower in the Group 1 than Group 2 and 3 (P=0.002 and P=0.012 to WZ score, P=0.003 and P=0.016 to HZ score, respectively). WHI was lower Group 1 than Group 2 (P=0.036). Among body composition values, only body cell mass was lower in Group 1 than Group 2 and 3 (P=0.015 and P=0.009, respectively). However, there was no difference between the Group 2 and Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Deficit of body cell mass with body growth evident in patients with VUR in compared with other groups. Therefore, early evolution and treatment in terms of VUR of children with recurrent urinary tract infections may be important.