Use of CANSCORE for Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status of Newborn and Its Comparison with Anthropometric Criteria

Fetal Malnutrition (FM) is caused by inadequate formation of fat, subcutaneous tissues and muscle mass in the fetus, which is associated with several morbidities. Thus, accurate and timely diagnosis of FM is crucial in newborns. In this study, we aimed to compare the nutritional status (Fetal Malnutrition) of a newborn in Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, based on CANSCORE with anthropometric criteria. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 367 neonates who were born from 2020 to 2021 in the maternity ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad were evaluated in the first 24 to 48 hours of life. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric criteria and CANSCORE of neonates were recorded and analyzed using SPSS software (version 16). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. 367 neonates (54.8% females), with a mean gestational age of 38.7 ± 1.4 weeks, were studied. Mean anthropometric indices, including height, mid-arm circumference and head circumference were 50.05 ± 2.3 cm, 10.5 ± 1.1 cm, and 34.8 ± 1.5 cm, respectively. Average CANSCORE was 25.5 ± 1.9. The majority of the neonates were AGA (89.6%), while 6% were SGA. According to MAC/HC, BMI, and PI, 0%, 14.4% and 12.3% of newborns were malnourished, respectively. CANSCORE identified FM in 19.1% of neonates. A significant correlation between neonates’ weight (SGA, AGA, LGA) and CANSCORE was detected (p<0.001). Bivariate analysis with Pearson’s correlation showed a significant and positive relationship between all anthropometric indices and CANSCORE (p<0.05). CANSCORE is an accurate clinical tool for identifying FM in term newborns.