Prevalence of Dehydration in Egyptian Primary School Children and its Impact on their Cognitive performance

Abstract

Background: A lot of children don’t meet water intake recommendations by Institute of medicine. Studies revealed correlation between hydration state and cognitive achievements in school-aged children residing in hot climate.

Aim of work: was to assess hydration status in Egyptian primary school children; and determine relation between hydration status and cognitive functions.

Patients & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 children, aged 9-13; from governmental, private and international schools. A child-friendly “fluids and liquid food” diary was designed to prospectively record the volume and frequency of beverage consumption in the previous day and during school day. Hydration status was assessed via Self-Reported Urine Colour.  The students underwent 4 cognitive function tests.

Results: 27% had “Satisfactory” and 73% had “Unsatisfactory” knowledge of proper water intake.  83% reported low water intake; 59% were dehydrated and 17% were severely dehydrated. There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total fluid intake and cognitive function, p-value (p<0.001).

Conclusion: 83% consumed low daily fluid intake. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between total fluid intake with urine colour; for both early morning and after-noon. There is a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total fluid intake and cognitive function. There was a statistically significant higher water intake in international school for the amount of water intake taken during school time and the  amount of water intake / day. In our study, the most consumed fluids were SSBs and fruit juices.

Keywords: Cognitive Functions-hydration status-Fluid Intake-Urine Colour.