Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.

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dc.contributor.authorNalwanga, Damalie
dc.contributor.authorGiallongo, Elisa
dc.contributor.authorMusiime, Victor
dc.contributor.authorKiguli, Sarah
dc.contributor.authorOlupot Olupot, Peter
dc.contributor.authorAlaroker, Florence
dc.contributor.authorOpoka, Robert
dc.contributor.authorTagoola, Abner
dc.contributor.authorHamaluba, Mainga
dc.contributor.authorMogaka, Christabel
dc.contributor.authorNabawanuka, Eva
dc.contributor.authorKaramagi, Charles
dc.contributor.authorBriend, André
dc.contributor.authorMaitland, Kathryn
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T14:22:25Z
dc.date.available2026-07-01T14:22:25Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionArticle
dc.description.abstractObjectives: To investigate the effect of supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia. Methods: This secondary analysis of the COAST-Nutrition (ISRCTN10829073) included children hospitalized for severe pneumonia in Uganda and Kenya. Undernutrition was defined as having either a weight-for-age z score, heightfor-age z score, or weight for-height/length z score below the median of the WHO reference population (< 0) or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) below 13.5 cm. Participants were randomized to receive 1 sachet of RUTF daily for 8 weeks in addition to the usual diet (intervention) or usual diet alone (control). The primary composite outcome for adverse events was any one of mortality, re-admission, or deterioration of nutritional status by day 90 of follow-up. Results: Of 846 main trial participants, 741 (88%) met the inclusion criteria (intervention: 374 versus control: 367). Of 687 (93%) participants in whom the primary outcome was assessed, 370 (54%) experienced an adverse event, [intervention: 184/348 (53%) versus control: 186/339(54%)]. There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups, aOR 0.92 (95% CI 0.68, 1.24), p = 0.572. Adverse outcome risk reduced with increasing age, aOR 0.53, (95% CI 0.45, 0.62), p < 0.001. Conclusion: RUTF supplementation did not reduce the high frequency of adverse outcomes in children aged 6–59 months following hospital admission with severe pneumonia. Nutritional support directly targeting metabolic needs post-pneumonia should be considered in the future.
dc.description.sponsorshipMakerere University ; Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre ; Aga Khan University ; Busitema University
dc.identifier.citationNalwanga D, Giallongo E, Musiime V, Kiguli S, Olupot PO, Alaroker F, Opoka R, Tagoola A, Hamaluba M, Mogaka C, Nabawanuka E, Karamagi C, Briend A and Maitland K (2025) Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia. Front. Nutr. 12:1507360. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1507360
dc.identifier.urihttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/7090
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherFrontiers
dc.titleSupplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.
dc.typeArticle
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