TABLE 4.

Comparison of Outcomes Between Assigned Treatment Food for Ghanaian Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition and Moderate Acute Malnutrition

OutcomeAssigned A-RUTFAssigned S-RUTFP Valuea
All study participantsn=642n=628
Defaulted,b No. (%)116 (18.1)68 (10.8)<.001
Died, No. (%)1 (0.2)4 (0.6).21
Recovered, No. (%)516 (80.4)554 (88.2)<.001
Remained malnourished, No. (%)9 (1.4)2 (0.3).06
Rate of weight gain,c g/kg/d, mean (SD)1.88 (1.8)2.04 (2.0).31
Rate of MUAC gain,c mm/d, mean (SD)0.16 (0.2)0.18 (0.2).04
Participants with SAMn=199n=202
Defaulted,b No. (%)60 (30.1)41 (20.3).03
Died, No. (%)1 (0.5)3 (1.5).62
Recovered, No. (%)130 (65.3)156 (77.2).01
Remained malnourished, No. (%)8 (4.0)2 (1.0).06
Rate of weight gain,c g/kg/d, mean (SD)2.40 (2.4)2.90 (2.6).04
Rate of MUAC gain,c mm/d, mean (SD)0.20 (0.2)0.25 (0.2).047
Participants with MAMn=443n=426
Defaulted,b No. (%)56 (12.6)27 (6.3).002
Died, No. (%)0 (0.0)1 (0.2)>.99
Recovered, No. (%)386 (87.1)398 (93.4).003
Remained malnourished, No. (%)1 (0.2)0 (0)>.99
Rate of weight gain,c g/kg/d, mean (SD)1.66 (1.5)1.61 (1.5).62
Rate of MUAC gain,c mm/d, mean (SD)0.13 (0.2)0.14 (0.2).29
  • Abbreviations: A-RUTF, alternative ready-to-use therapeutic food; MAM, moderate acute malnutrition; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; SAM, severe acute malnutrition; S-RUTF, standard ready-to-use therapeutic food.

  • a Statistical comparisons made using Student's t test for continuous parameters and Fisher's exact test for categorical parameters.

  • b Defaulters were treated as unrecovered in the calculation of recovery rates.

  • c Calculated for the first 4 weeks of treatment.