Nutritional Status of Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the long-term effects of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) on the nutritional status and growth of children.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study to assess longitudinal growth patterns (height and BMI z-scores) in pediatric patients (<18 years) newly diagnosed with EoE and followed for at least one year. Nutritional status was classified using BMI-based criteria from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the World Health Organization.

RESULTS

Among 50 patients, 20% presented with impaired nutritional status at diagnosis, including 12% with moderate malnutrition (BMI z-score < -2) and 8% with obesity (BMI z-score > +2). After a mean follow-up of 24.5 months, the prevalence of moderate malnutrition decreased to 6%, whereas obesity increased to 12%. Height z-scores remained largely stable over the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

EoE affects children across the full BMI spectrum. Long-term follow-up highlights the importance of monitoring nutritional status in all pediatric patients with EoE, given the risks of both malnutrition and obesity during disease management.