Table 1.
Baseline characteristics by nutritional status, modified intent-to-treat population (N = 397)
| SAM (N = 131) | Non-SAM (N = 266) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographic characteristics | |||
| Season at inclusion, n (%) | 0.943 | ||
| High transmission (June–October) | 66 (50.4) | 133 (50.0) | |
| Low transmission (November–January) | 65 (49.6) | 133 (50.0) | |
| Age in months, mean (SD) | 16.9 (7.7) | 28.2 (13.0) | <0.0001 |
| Male gender n (%) | 65 (49.6) | 122(45.9) | 0.481 |
| Rural residence, n (%) | 126 (96.2) | 260 (97.7) | 0.373 |
| Education of mother, n (%) | 0.051 | ||
| None | 114 (87.0) | 210 (78.9) | |
| Primary or secondary | 17 (13.0) | 56 (21.1) | |
| Has a mosquito net | 107 (81.7) | 215 (80.8) | 0.838 |
| In good state | 47 (35.9) | 92 (34.6) | 0.648 |
| Used it all nights the previous week | 95 (72.5) | 200 (75.2) | 0.567 |
| Anthropometric characteristics | |||
| Weight in kg, mean (SD) | 6.9 (1.1) | 10.6 (2.5) | <0.0001 |
| Height in cm, mean (SD) | 74.4 (6.8) | 84.5 (10.3) | <0.0001 |
| Weight-for-height z-score, mean (SD) | −3.42 (0.55) | −1.01 (0.92) | <0.0001 |
| MUAC in mm, mean (SD) | 116.8 (6.6) | 139.2 (12.1) | <0.0001 |
| Weight-for-age z-score, mean (SD) | −3.39 (0.58) | −1.41 (0.93) | <0.0001 |
| Stunting (height-for-age z-score < –2), n (%) | 62 (47.3) | 71 (26.7) | <0.0001 |
| Clinical characteristics | |||
| Measured temperature > 37.5 °C, n (%) | 115 (89.2) | 226 (85.6) | 0.331 |
| Fatigue, n (%) | 112 (85.5) | 198 (74.4) | 0.012 |
| Anorexia, n (%) | 110 (84.0) | 178 (66.9) | <0.0001 |
| Vomiting, n (%) | 27 (20.6) | 58 (21.8) | 0.785 |
| Diarrhea, n (%) | 37 (28.2) | 21 (7.9) | <0.0001 |
| Cough or bronchitis, n (%) | 55 (42.0) | 87 (32.7) | 0.070 |
| ENT (otitis media, rhinorrhea), n (%) | 52 (39.7) | 113 (42.5) | 0.596 |
| Splenomegaly, n (%) | 25 (19.1) | 46 (17.3) | 0.662 |
| Biological characteristics | |||
| Parasite density (parasites/μL), median | 10880 | 11520 | 0.7648 |
| IQR | 3683–32160 | 4200–39240 | |
| Presence of gametocytes | 40 (30.5) | 63 (23.7) | 0.143 |
| Hemoglobin concentration (g/dL), mean (SD) | 8.6 (1.5) | 8.8 (1.5) | 0.196 |
| Hemoglobin <10 g/dL, n (%)* | 104 (79.4) | 196 (73.7) | 0.214 |
| Hemoglobin <7 g/dL, n (%) | 20 (15.3) | 32 (12.0) | 0.369 |
SAM severe acute malnutrition, SD standard deviation, MUAC mid-upper arm circumference, ENT, ear nose and throat, IQR interquartile range