Prevalence of Failure to Thrive in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia

Background Failure to thrive (FTT) is referred to as inadequate growth focusing on anthropometric criteria that indicate poor nutritional status and growth. Despite the importance of FTT among pediatric age groups, there are a limited number of studies in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aims to determine the incidence of FTT in a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between November 2023 and October 2024. The study included pediatric inpatients up to two years of age, and excluded those who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Data was collected from 142 individuals through an anonymous questionnaire. Results Our study included 142 pediatric inpatients up to the age of two years, with a demographic breakdown of 56.3% male and 43.7% female. Among the participants, 70.4% were Saudi nationals, while 29.6% were non-Saudi. The majority of our population was in the age group of 0 to six months (43.7%). The mean weight of the patients was 6.61 ± 2.87 kg, and the mean height was 64.49 ± 13.06 cm. FTT was identified in 44.4% of the patients. Preterm births were identified as a significant independent risk factor for FTT, and 56.1% of patients with a history of previous neonatal or pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions developed FTT. Conclusion Our study concluded a significant incidence of FTT among pediatric inpatients up to two years of age. Nearly half of our population had FTT. Notable risk factors included preterm birth and ICU admissions. These findings highlight the burden of FTT in KAUH, as well as the need for targeted interventions to address and reduce the incidence of FTT.