DIGESTIVE HEALTH AND FACTORS THAT IMPACT IT: AN OBSERVATIONAL CASE-STUDY OF THE PEDIATRIC PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR GUT DISEASES AT A PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL FROM TIMISOARA, ROMANIA

The aim of the study was to investigate whether personal, perinatal and early nutritional factors have an impact on digestive health.Materials and methods: An observational case-study was performed on a sample of 248 pediatric patients (51.2% males), admitted into a pediatric hosp ital over the course of two years.The gathered data (the prespecified gut diseas es, personal, perinatal factors and early nutrition) from the patients` files were used to build a data base.Statistical analysis (binomial logistic regression) was performed with the aid of SPSS20 Program.Two statistically significant age-groups (0-3 years, 3-18 years) were considered.Results: Differences were revealed between the two significant age-groups: 0-3 years (predominance of: enterocolitis, gastroenteritis-GE, cow milk allergy-CMA, acute dehydration syndrome-ADS and bacterial diseases, females, caesarian section, breast feeding 0-2 months) and 3-18 years (predominance of: GE, ADS and parasitic diseases, males, natural birth, breast feeding over 12 months).The outcome variables were gut diseases (enteroco litis, GE, CMA, ADS), the independent variables were personal (gender, age, residence), perinatal (gestational age, delivery type), early nutrition (duration of breast feeding, milk fo rmulas, diversification age).Statistically significant associations were demonstrated between: natural feeding 0-2 months (NF-2)-CMA (OR=13.51,p=0.007-entire sample, OR=7.48, p=0.002-age group 0-3 years), NF-2-enterocolitis (OR=5.47,p=0.005-age group 0-3 years), NF-2-GE (OR=0.185,p=0.009-age group 0-3 years).Age, residence and delivery type also related to gut diseases.Conclusions: There is an association between gut diseases as dependent variables and personal (age, residence), perinatal (type of birth) and early nutrition (NF-2) independent variables.