No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (MNutr (Human Nutrition))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / INTRODUCTION: The best known reference standards used to evaluate the growth and development of infants and children are the 1977 National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) - , the 2000 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - and the World Health Organization (WHO) (2006). The NCHS reference standards were used to analyse anthropometric data from the 1999 National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS). It was anticipated that using the 2000 CDC and the 2006 WHO reference standards may lead to differences in the previously estimated prevalences of stunting, wasting, underweight, risk of overweight, overweight and obesity in the study population. AIM: To compare the anthropometric status of children aged 12 - 60 months when using the 1977 NCHS -, the 2000 CDC -, and the 2006 WHO reference standards. METHODS: A secondary analysis of anthropometric data from the 1999 NFCS was conducted using different reference standards to compare anthropometric status in terms of the prevalences of stunting, wasting, underweight, risk of overweight, overweight and obesity. Relationships between anthropometric status and other variables such as breastfeeding, maternal education level and type of housing were explored. RESULTS: The prevalences of stunting, obesity and overweight were significantly higher and the prevalence of underweight and wasting were lower when using the 2006 WHO compared to the 1977 NCHS and the 2000 CDC reference standards. A significant relationship was found between weight-forheight and breastfeeding when using any one of the reference standards and between BMI-for-age and breastfeeding when using the 2006 WHO reference standard. A significant relationship was shown between maternal education level and height-for-age and weight-for-age when using any one of the three reference standards and a significant association was found between weight-for-height and BMI-for-age and the type of housing when using any of the three reference standards. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences of stunting and obesity were higher when using the 2006 WHO reference standards compared to the 1977 NCHS and 2000 CDC reference standards. This may be due to the linear growth and rate of weight gain of breastfed infants differing from formula fed infants and the 2006 WHO reference made use of the exclusively and predominantly breastfed infant living under normal healthy conditions as the normative model which is a prescription of how children should not grow and .not an indication of how children are growing. In conclusion, the 2006 WHO reference standard must be the only reference standard used nationally and internationally when assessing the growth and nutritional status of infants and children.

Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Introduction: More than half a million children worldwide die from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) each year. In Uganda, HIV/AIDS is a major cause of infant and childhood mortality. Although the government of Uganda, through various strategies, has increased access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), resulting in national scaling up of accessibility to antiretroviral therapy (ART), initiation of ART in resource-limited areas remains a challenge due to constraints such as the absence of or limited number of CD4 machines and related laboratory constraints. Further scaling up of ART for children would be greatly strengthened by increased access to laboratory services for CD4 counts or the introduction of alternative indicators or guidelines for the initiation of ART. Aim: This study therefore set out to investigate, through the analysis of retrospectively collected data, whether anthropometric indices (wasting - weight for height; underweight - weight for age; and stunting - height for age) could provide a useful alternative guide when deciding about initiation of ART in children aged 2-12 years in the absence of sophisticated clinical and laboratory support. Methods: The study was conducted at the Mildmay Centre, an HIV/AIDS specialist centre located in Kampala, Uganda. Parameters such as the age at which children had been initiated onto ART, duration on ART, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) disease stages at time of initiation, anthropometry at time of initiation, CD4% staging at time of initiation, support received from food aid programmes, referral to other health centres as a result of malnutrition and care-giver nutrition education/counselling were all determined retrospectively from clinical records. Results: It was found, based on CDC (2000) growth reference charts, that of the total number of children who took part in this study (N=125), 98.4% were mildly wasted, 52.8% mildly underweight and 75.2% mildly stunted when they were initiated onto ART. Of the children, who had WHO disease staging documented - 40% (N=50), the majority - 86% (N=43) were in WHO disease staging II and III during initiation of ART. and 96% (N=48) were mildly wasted. However, the relationship between WHO disease staging and wasting, underweight, and stunting at initiation of ART in children at the Mildmay centre was not significant. The relationship between CD4% and underweight or stunted children was also not significant. It was established however, that in the absence of CD4 laboratory parameters (since CD4% is vital in the initiation of ART in children) as is the case in resource limited areas, anthropometric indices (moderate to severe wasting, weight for height -W/H) could be used concurrently with CDC and WHO disease staging to initiate ART in children. However, it is important to note that anthropometric indices on their own cannot be used as a guide for initiating ART in children. Conclusion: Anthropometric status alone cannot be used to accurately determine when to initiate ART in children 2-12 years.

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No description available.

RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 63 indivíduos (42,9% OI tipo I; 17,5 OI tipo III; 39,7 OI tipo IV). As características clínicas dos indivíduos estavam de acordo com a variabilidade fenotípica da doença. Todos os indivíduos com OI tipo III possuiam baixa estatura grave. Em relação estado nutricional, a maioria dos indivíduos foram classificados como eutróficos, entretanto somando sobrepeso e obesidade foi observado 37,0%, 44,6% e 32,0% para OI tipo I, III e IV, respectivamente. Os resultados das avaliações das dobras cutâneas mostraram-se concordantes à classificação do estado nutricional dos indivíduos, pois pacientes com dobras cutâneas classificadas acima do percentil 85 apresentaram estado nutricional de sobrepeso e obesidade. A gordura corporal calculada através do DEXA apresentou forte correlação (r=0, 803) com a gordura corporal calculada pelo somatório das dobras cutâneas. Em relação ao consumo alimentar a média do percentual de adequação de calorias apresentou diferença significativa entre os dois métodos (OMS ou Kcal/cm) (p=0, 002). Consumo de energia acima de 110% foi observado em 45,6% e 40,4% dos indivíduos para ambos os métodos. A OI tipo III apresentou uma média do percentual de adequação de calorias mais elevado que a OI tipo I e IV em ambos os métodos. Para a classificação da adequação do consumo alimentar de macronutrientes, 12,7% dos indivíduos apresentaram consumo abaixo do ponto de corte mínimo estabelecido para carboidrato, enquanto que 23,8% e 30,8% dos indivíduos apresentaram consumo alimentar acima do ponto de corte máximo para proteína e lipídio, respectivamente. Observamos uma associação entre o diagnóstico nutricional e os pontos de corte de consumo alimentar estabelecidos. A classificação consumo alimentar de cálcio abaixo do ponto de corte mínimo foi observado em 76,2% dos indivíduos, sendo 79,5% a média do percentual de adequação do consumo de cálcio, estando abaixo do ponto de corte mínimo. A média do consumo de cálcio ingerido foi de 770mg/dia. Foi observada uma correlação inversa (r= -0 527) entre a idade e a adequação no consumo de cálcio. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo demonstra que a OI apresentam uma variabilidade clínica grande. A baixa estatura é uma característica marcante na OI, principalmente, em indivíduos com tipo III. Os indivíduos, em sua maioria, foram classificados como eutróficos, porém foi observada incidência de sobrepeso e obesidade nos pacientes. As dobras cutâneas mostraram- se concordantes com o diagnóstico nutricional dos indivíduos. O percentual de gordura corporal calculada pelo somatório das dobras cutâneas apresentou forte correlação com a percentual de gordura corporal calculado pelo DEXA. Em relação, ao consumo alimentar, indivíduos classificados com OI tipo III, apresentaram maior consumo de energia, do que os indivíduos com OI tipos I e IV. Para o consumo de macronutrientes, embora a maioria dos indivíduos apresentarem consumo adequado, alguns indivíduos apresentaram baixo consumo de carboidrato e alto consumo de proteína e lipídio. O baixo consumo de cálcio apresentou- se 76,2% da população estando abaixo do ponto de corte mínimo. Foi observada também uma correlação inversa entre idade e adequação no consumo de cálcio. Este estudo manifesta a necessidade de uma intervenção nutricional direcionada a estes pacientes uma vez que a adequação do estado nutricional e do consumo alimentar são fatores importantes para a saúde óssea. / BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is an inherited disease that results in decreased bone mass and fragility leading to an increased susceptibility to fractures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, anthropometric, nutritional status and describe the profile of food intake in pediatric patients with OI. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of pediatric patients form 0-19 years of age of both gender attending the OI outpatient clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements and nutritional assessment. Percentage of body fat was calculated using the sum of skinfolds (triceps and subscapular) and measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absoptiometry (DEXA). Both measurements were correlated. Food intake was calculated using the food diary for three days and for calculation of calories two methods were used: reference table by age by WHO and the formula Kcal / cm. The values used to ensure adequate intake of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and lipid) were according to FAO/ WHO and the food intake of micronutrients (calcium) according to DRI, considering the Adequate Intake (AI) for age. It was established as suitable for food intake of calories and nutrients intake between the cutoffs of 90 to 110%. For data analysis SPSS V.18 was used. The tests for statistical analysis were One Way ANOVA, t-student, Kappa, Pearson correlation tests. We considered significant values p <0.05. RESULTS: The study enrolled 63 subjects (42.9% OI type I, 17.5% OI type III, 39.7% OI type IV). The clinical characteristics of individuals were in agreement with the phenotypic variability of the disease. All individuals with OI type III had been classified with severe short stature. The nutritional status of most individuals were classified as normal, however overweight or obesity were observed respectively in 37.0%, 44.6% and 32.0% for OI type I, III and IV, respectively. The results of evaluations of skinfolds were shown to be consistent with the classification of nutritional status of individuals, because patients with skinfolds above the 85th centile showed nutritional status of overweight and obesity. Body fat estimated by DEXA showed a strong correlation (r = 0.803) with body fat calculated from the sum of skinfolds. Regarding the profile of food consumption the average proportion of adequate calories showed significant difference between the two methods (WHO or Kcal/cm) (p = 0.002). Food consumption in excess of 110% was observed in 45.6% and 40.4% of subjects for both methods. The OI type III showed an average proportion of adequate calories higher than OI type I and IV in both methods. To classify the adequacy of dietary intake of macronutrients 12.7% of subjects had intake below the threshold cutoff for carbohydrate, whereas 23.8 and 30.8% of subjects had food intake above the cutoff limit for protein and lipid. We observed an association between nutritional status and the cutoff of food consumption set. Classification dietary intake of calcium below the minimum cutoff point was observed in 76.2% of subjects and the average intake of calcium was 770mg/dia. We observed an inverse correlation (r = -0.527) between age and calcium intake. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the OI have a great clinical variability. Short stature is a hallmark in OI, especially in individuals with type III. Individuals, in most cases, were classified as normal, but it was found that the incidence of overweight and obesity in patients. The skinfolds were shown to be consistent with the diagnosis of nutritional subjects. skinfolds showed a strong correlation with body fat percentage calculated by DEXA. In relation to the food intake, individuals classified as OI type III, had higher energy consumption than individuals with OI type I and IV. For the consumption of macronutrients, although most people develop adequate intake, some individuals had low carbohydrate intake and high intake of protein and lipid. The low intake of calcium was 76.2% of the population being below the minimum cutoff. There was also an inverse correlation between age and fitness for consumption of calcium. This study shows the need for a nutritional intervention targeted to these patients since their nutritional status and dietary intake are important factors for bone health.

Introdução: A Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (VAN) foi proposta mundialmente em meados da década de 60 e foi consolidada na década de 70 através de três importantes eventos internacionais: a Conferência Mundial de Alimentos (1974), a Conferência de Alma-Ata (1978), e a proposta de uma Revolução pela Sobrevivência e Desenvolvimento da criança (1983). No Brasil, desde os anos 90, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) tem incentivado o monitoramento alimentar e nutricional da população atendida pela Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), vinculado às rotinas dos serviços, através do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN). Desde então, diversos projetos de implantação do SISVAN vem sendo desenvolvidos nos municípios brasileiros. No entanto, há poucos estudos avaliando as informações registradas no SISVAN, bem como sua cobertura no país. Objetivos: 1) Avaliar para 2006 a cobertura do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN- Ministério da Saúde - MS) nas Coordenadorias Regionais de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (CRSs) e no Estado; 2) Avaliar a concordância entre as classificações nutricionais registradas pelos profissionais no sistema com aquelas geradas por este estudo e; 3) Caracterizar o estado nutricional de crianças de 0-10 anos acompanhadas pelo SISVAN no RS no referido ano. Métodos: Estudo transversal descritivo de base secundária em que se analisaram dados de 63.320 crianças de 0-10 anos acompanhadas pelo SISVAN em 2006 no RS. A cobertura do sistema foi avaliada pela comparação do total de crianças acompanhadas pelo sistema em 2006 com a estimativa da população de menores de 10 anos coberta pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família nos municípios gaúchos no mesmo ano (DATASUS, 2010). A classificação do estado nutricional informado pelo profissional em 2006 no sistema [que foi baseada no índice peso/idade, em percentis, com referência na curva de crescimento do NCHS (OMS, 1983)], foi recalculada neste estudo a partir das medidas de peso, idade e sexo constantes no banco de dados, a fim de avaliar concordância entre classificações. O estado nutricional foi avaliado segundo a referência da Organização Mundial da Saúde (WHO, 2006). Foram considerados déficits nutricionais quando os índices peso/idade (P/I), massa corporal para idade (IMC/I) e estatura para idade (E/I) tinham valores de escore z inferiores a -2, e excesso de peso valores de IMC/I com escore z maior ou igual a +2. Foram calculadas freqüências relativas e absolutas, médias e desvios-padrão das variáveis, utilizando-se os testes t de Student para amostras independentes, qui-quadrado de Pearson e o coeficiente Kappa ponderado para comparação de médias, proporções e concordância de classificações, respectivamente. Resultados: A cobertura do sistema no RS foi de 10,54% (oscilando de 2,2% a 21,0% entre CRSs). O valor do coeficiente kappa ponderado entre classificações nutricionais foi de 0,426 para o RS (oscilando de 0,135 a 0,661 entre CRSs). As freqüências dos desvios nutricionais foram: déficit E/I: 9,1% (menores de 5 anos) e 5,8% (5-10 anos); déficit P/I: 3,7% (menores de 5 anos) e 4,0% (5-10 anos); déficit IMC/I: 3,1% (menores de 5 anos) e 2,8% (5-10 anos); e excesso de peso: 9,4% (menores de 5 anos) e 7,9% (5-10 anos). Conclusões: Aponta-se o excesso de peso e o déficit estatural entre as crianças acompanhadas pelo SISVAN, mas requere-se cautela à extrapolação dos resultados, devido às baixas cobertura do sistema e concordância das classificações nutricionais registradas. / Introduction: The Nutritional and Food Surveillance System was proposed internationally in the mid 60‟s and was consolidated in the 1970‟s through three important international events: The World Food Conference (1974), the Alma-Ata Conference (1978) and the proposition for a Child Survival and Development Revolution (1983). In Brazil, since the 1990‟s, the Ministry of Health has encouraged the nutritional and food monitoring of the population treated by the Primary Healthcare Service, associated to service routines, through the Nutritional and Food Surveillance System (SISVAN). Since then several projects for implementing SISVAN have been developed in Brazilians cities. However, there are few studies assessing the information recorded in SISVAN, as well as its coverage across the country. Objectives: 1) To assess, in 2006, the coverage of Nutritional and Food Surveillance System (SISVAN-MH) in the Regional Health Coordination Offices (CRSs) of the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and in the whole State; 2) To assess the agreement between nutritional classifications recorded by the professionals in the system and those provided by these study; 3) To characterize the nutritional status of children from age 0 to 10 followed by SISVAN in RS in these year. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of secondary database analyzing data from 63,320 children aged 0-10 followed by SISVAN in 2006, in RS. The system coverage was assessed by comparing the total number of children followed by the system in 2006 with the estimate for the population of children below age 10 covered by the Strategy of Health´s Family in the RS cities at the same year (DATASUS, 2010). The nutritional status, stated by professionals in 2006 in the system [based on the weight/age index, in percentiles according to the reference from the NCHS(OMS, 1983)] was recalculated in this study using weight measurements, age and sex data from the database in order to evaluate the agreement between classifications. The nutritional status was evaluated according to the reference from the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006). The score z values smaller than -2 for the indexes weight-for-age (W/A), BMI-for-age(BMI/A) and height-for-age (H/A) were considered nutritional deficits. The score z values greater then +2 for the index BMI/A were considered overweight. Relative and absolute frequencies, means and standard deviations of variables were calculated, using Student‟s t test for independent samples, Pearson‟s chi square test and weighted kappa coefficient to compare means, ratios and classification agreement, respectively. Results: The system coverage in RS was 10.54% (ranging from 2,2% to 21,0% across CRSs). The value of the weighted kappa coefficient between nutritional classifications was 0.426 in RS (ranging from 0.135 to 0.661 across CRSs). The frequencies of nutritional deviations were: H/A deficit: 9.1% (children below age 5) and 5.8% (children aged 5 to 10 years old); W/A deficit: 3.7% (children below age 5) and 4.0% (children aged 5 to 10 years old); BMI/A deficit: 3.1% (children below age 5) and 2.8% (children aged 5 to 10 years old); and overweight: 9.4% (children below age 5) and 7.9% (children aged 5 to 10 years old); Conclusions: The results showed the overweight and the height deficit among children followed by SISVAN, but they should be interpreted with caution because of low coverage of SISVAN in RS and the poor quality of anthropometric data registered.

The Food and Nutritional Surveillance System of Brazil produces epidemiological information on health and nutritional situation of different life phases of the Brazilian Health System (SUS) users. This is done so as to subsidize the planning actions and the food and nutritional programs in the area of basic attention to health. In childhood, the monitoring of growth and development processes takes place mainly from anthropometric methods that are subjected to different sources of errors which can provoke significant distortions in the nutritional diagnosis. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the reliability of the anthropometric data obtained in children under 5 years old of the SUS basic health system of Alagoas. An anthropometric profile of these children was made and the sampling was made in multiple stages, of three phases each, to obtain a sample of 40 Health Assistence Establishments (HAE) devoted to children medical care. Each child attended in the HAE had their measures verified at three different times, making possible interpersonal comparisons among them and among equipments. The harmony between the nutritional stage classification (from the NCHS, 1977), in relation to the indexes of weight for age (WA) and height for age (HA) was validated by the Cohen´s Kappa coefficient (K) and the interpretation by the Landis & Koch criteria. Variations were still analyzed in the measurements of body mass taking into account an acceptable variation of about 100 gr. in relation to the measure of the researcher when using a standard equipment. The anthropometric evaluation of the children was based on growth curves of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006).The WHO Anthro program (2005) was used to calculate the z-scores. The cut-off points recommended by WHO (1995) were adopted for the nutritional diagnosis, which were associated to variables such as gender, age, localization of the Health Assistance Establishments (HAE) and the organizational model of the current basic attention. The data analysed in the Epi-Info were considered as statistically significant for p < 0.05. The results referred to the investigation reliability indicated substantial agreement (K=0.69) between the nutritional classifications of the WA index obtained by the professionals of the service. An improvement of the agreement (K=0.83) was observed when the researcher used service s equipment, suggesting errors in the evaluation technique of body mass by their professionals. In relation to HA index, the agreement was worrying (K=0.27) indicating serious problems of technical origin in the height checking up by the professionals as well as by the service s equipments, because it passed to moderate (K=0.56) when a comparison was made between the results produced by the researcher and those obtained by the researcher using the service s equipment. The results related to the anthropometric evaluation of the children under study indicated that malnutrition is present in two forms: height (8.4%) and weight (6.6%) deficit in relation to age, being the linear growth the one which was more compromised. The overweight tax (6.4%) already reaches malnutrition levels, showing a panorama of transitional nutrition. It was also observed that the children assisted by the Family Health Strategy (FHS) presented less malnutrition prevalence by weight deficit in relation to age (5.8%), being this difference significant. This situation may be attributed to the specific characteristics of FHS, among them the development of actions based on the situational diagnosis, with the family and the community as a focus, giving priority to the solution of the most frequent nutritional problems. / O Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional gera informações epidemiológicas sobre a situação de saúde e nutrição nas diferentes fazes do curso da vida dos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), de forma a subsidiar o planejamento de ações e programas de alimentação e nutrição no âmbito da atenção básica à saúde. Na infância, o monitoramento dos processos de crescimento e desenvolvimento se dá principalmente a partir de medidas antropométricas que estão sujeitas as diversas fontes de erros, os quais podem determinar sensíveis distorções no diagnóstico nutricional. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar qual a confiabilidade dos dados antropométricos obtidos em crianças menores de cinco anos na rede básica de saúde do SUS em Alagoas e, paralelamente, traçar o perfil antropométrico das crianças incluídas no estudo. A amostragem foi realizada em estágios múltiplos com três etapas para obter amostra de 40 Estabelecimentos de Assistência a Saúde (EAS) com atendimento pediátrico. Cada criança atendida no serviço teve suas medidas aferidas em três momentos distintos, possibilitando comparações inter-pessoais e interequipamentos. A concordância entre as classificações do estado nutricional, a partir do NCHS (1977), em relação aos índices peso para idade (PI) e estatura para idade (EI), foi verificada pelo Coeficiente Kappa de Cohen (K) e a interpretação pelo critério de Landis & Koch. Foram ainda analisadas as variações nas medidas de massa corporal considerando-se aceitável a variação até 100 gramas em relação à medida do pesquisador usando o equipamento padrão. A avaliação antropométrica das crianças baseou-se nas curvas de crescimento da OMS 2006, sendo utilizado o programa WHO Anthro (2005) para cálculo dos escores-z. Adotaram-se os pontos de corte recomendados pela OMS (1995) para o diagnóstico do estado nutricional, os quais foram associados com as variáveis: gênero, idade, localização dos EAS e o modelo de organização da atenção básica em vigor nos EAS. Os dados foram analisados no Epi Info, sendo considerado como significância estatística o valor p<0,05. Resultados referentes à investigação da confiabilidade indicaram uma concordância substancial (K=0,69) entre as classificações nutricionais do índice PI obtidas pelos profissionais do serviço. Notou-se uma melhora na concordância (K=0,83) quando o pesquisador usou o equipamento do serviço, sugerindo falhas na técnica de mensuração da massa corporal pelos profissionais do serviço. Quanto ao índice EI a concordância foi preocupante (K=0,27) indicando sérios problemas de ordem técnica na aferição da estatura pelos profissionais bem como nos equipamentos do serviço, pois passou à moderada (K=0,56) quando se comparou os resultados produzidos pelo pesquisador com aqueles obtidos pelo pesquisador usando o equipamento do serviço. Os resultados referentes à avaliação antropométrica das crianças estudadas indicaram que a desnutrição está presente sob duas formas: déficit de estatura (8,4%) e de peso (6,6%) em relação à idade, sendo o crescimento linear o que se apresentou mais comprometido. A taxa de sobrepeso (6,4%) já alcança os níveis de desnutrição configurando o quadro de transição nutricional. Verificou-se, ainda, que as crianças assistidas pela Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) apresentaram menor prevalência de desnutrição por déficit de peso em relação à idade (5,8%), sendo esta diferença significativa. Esta situação poderia ser atribuída às especificidades da ESF, dentre elas, o desenvolvimento de ações com base no diagnóstico situacional e tendo como foco a família e a comunidade, priorizando solução dos problemas de saúde mais freqüentes.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-12663.pdf: 1068607 bytes, checksum: 217854497123ffe87e8917a81702ebe0 (MD5) / Introdução: A relação entre a Síndrome da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono (SAOS) e a obesidade na infância é assunto ainda controverso, e os trabalhos com crianças obesas, até então, não incluem uma avaliação sistemática da via aérea superior (VAS). O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar avaliação sistemática da VAS e polissonográfica de crianças obesas. Método: Foram incluídas 44 crianças obesas, submetidas a um protocolo de avaliação que consistiu em questionários, exame físico, nasofibroscopia, polissonografia e exames laboratoriais incluindo glicemia de jejum, imunoglobulina E sérica e Radio Allergo Sorbent Test. Resultados: Vinte e dois pacientes (50%) eram do sexo feminino e 22 (50%) do masculino, com média de idade de 7,6 ± 2,5 anos. A SAOS esteve presente em 19 (43%) pacientes. Quando comparados quanto ao gênero, a presença de ronco e o RAST detectável foram mais frequentes no sexo masculino (p= 0,02 e p= 0,01). Quando comparadas em relação à presença da SAOS, a presença de ronco habitual, pausas testemunhadas e cefaleia foram mais frequentes no grupo SAOS (p=0,04, p=0,03 e p=0,04) e os parâmetros antropométrico e laboratorial não mostraram diferenças significantes. Os achados polissonográficos significantes no grupo SAOS foram maior IAO (p<0,001), maior índice de despertares (p=0.004), maior porcentagem do sono REM (p=0,003) e menor saturação mínima da oxi-hemoglobina (p<0.001). Quanto à avaliação da VAS, a hiperplasia das tonsilas faríngea e palatinas e o índice de Mallampati Modificado classes III e IV foram os únicos parâmetros que apresentaram maior frequência no grupo SAOS (p=0.05, p<0.001 e p=0,05, respectivamente), sendo confirmados pela regressão logística como fatores de risco para apneia do sono neste grupo de crianças. Conclusões: A ocorrência de SAOS nessa população pediátrica obesa foi alta, e a hiperplasia das tonsilas palatinas e faríngea, assim como o Índice de Mallampati modificado classes III e IV foram os principais marcadores da SAOS. / Introduction: The relationship between obstructive apnea syndrome (OSAS) and obesity in childhood is still controversial, and works with obese children, until then, do not include a systematic evaluation of the upper airway (UA). The aim was to make a systematic assessment of the UA and polysomnography in obese children. Method: The study included 44 obese children who underwent an evaluation protocol that consisted of questionnaires, physical examination, nasofibroscopy, polysomnography and laboratory tests including fasting glucose, serum immunoglobulin E and Radio Allergia Sorbent Test (RAST). Results: Twenty-two patients (50%) were female and 22 (50%) males, mean age 7.6 ± 2.5 years. OSAS was present in 19 (43%) patients. When compared to gender, the presence of snoring and RAST were detected more frequently in males (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01). When compared according to the presence of OSA, the presence of habitual snoring, witnessed pauses and headache were more frequent in OSAS group (p = 0.04, p = 0.03 and p = 0.04) and anthropometric and laboratory parameters did not showed significant differences. The Polysomnography significant findings were higher obstructive apnea index (p <0.001), higher arousal index (p = 0.004), higher percentage of REM sleep (p = 0.003) and lower minimum saturation of oxyhemoglobin (p <0.001)in OSAS group. In the evaluation of the UA, pharyngeal and palatine tonsils hypertrophy and Mallampati index Modified classes III and IV were the only parameters that showed a higher frequency in the OSAS group (p = 0.05, p <0.001 and p = 0.05), and confirmed by logistic regression as risk factors for sleep apnea in this group of children. Conclusions: The occurrence of OSAS in this obese pediatric population was high, and pharyngeal and palatine tonsils hypertrophy and the modified Mallampati index classes III and IV were the markers of OSAS in this group. / TEDE