Overweight children at increased risk of wound infection

Overweight children more often suffer from wound infection after surgery
Obesity brings significant health disadvantages at a young age. The risk of metabolic diseases increases and the joints take damage. In addition, according to a recent study in overweight and obese children, the risk of infection after surgery is significantly increased.

Obesity and obesity have already been clearly associated with an increased risk of infection in surgical procedures in adults. Now the research team was able to Catherine Hunter from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago demonstrates that this increased risk of infection is also applicable to overweight children. In the preparation and aftercare of a surgical procedure, according to the researchers, this should be taken into account.

Thick children have a significantly higher risk of wound infection after surgery. (Image: kwanchaichaiudom / fotolia.com)

Risk of infection after surgery specifically examined
So far, although the increased risk of infection in overweight adults has been relatively well studied, but the "research on this topic in children and adolescents is scarce," reports Dr. med. Catherine Hunter. In their current study, the researchers therefore used the data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) to specifically address the issue of the risk of infection in children.

Overweight with significantly increased risk of infection
The researchers analyzed the data from a total of 1,380 patients between the ages of two and 18 years (mean age 10.4 years) with surgery performed between 2012 and 2013. The patients were divided into the groups "underweight", "normal / healthy weight", "obesity or obesity". The children from the group of overweight and obese children showed a significantly higher risk of infection than the normal weight. The results of the data analysis were also confirmed in the retrospective individual case study of 115 patients with a mean age of 9 years, the researchers report.

Correlation is still unclear
"The information from this study can now be used in the assessment and counseling of preoperative pediatric surgical patients and their families," Dr. Hunter. Why the overweight children have a higher risk of infection, but so far not been clarified. "When looking at children, adolescents and adults, there are several theories why overweight or obese patients are at higher risk for infection," explains Dr. Hunter continues. The cause may be, for example, an impaired wound healing due to the lower oxygen supply in the tissues or also an impaired activability of the lymphocytes, the researchers report. However, the exact triggers are still to be investigated in further studies. (Fp)