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Malnutrition in children with congenital heart defects
P Venugopalan1, F O Akinbami, K M Al-Hinai
1Child Ward 2, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. gopalax@omantel.net.om
Insights
Children with congenital heart defects have a higher risk of malnutrition, particularly those with symptoms. Early dietary intervention is crucial for growth restoration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) can impact a child's nutritional status.
- Assessing malnutrition frequency in CHD patients is vital for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of malnutrition in children with CHDs.
- To compare nutritional status between CHD patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study of 152 children with CHDs and 152 controls.
- Nutritional status assessed by weight, height, and head circumference.
- Malnutrition categorized as acute or chronic based on National Centre for Health Statistics standards.
Main Results:
- Children with CHDs exhibited significantly higher rates of acute (27%) and chronic (24%) malnutrition.
- Symptomatic CHD cases showed reduced weight, height, and head circumference compared to controls.
- Infants with symptomatic CHDs were most frequently affected by malnutrition.
Conclusions:
- Malnutrition is a significant issue in children with CHDs, especially those with heart failure or cyanosis.
- Symptomatic infants with CHDs are the most vulnerable population.
- Enhanced dietary management and early intervention are essential for improving growth outcomes.
Objective:
To assess the frequency of malnutrition in children with congenital heart defects in a hospital outpatient setting.
Methods:
One hundred and fifty-two children with congenital heart defects (patients), and an equal number of children with innocent cardiac murmurs (controls) attending the Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman from 1997 to 1998 were prospectively studied. Weight, height and head circumference were used for evaluation of nutritional status. Patients and controls were categorized into acute malnutrition (weight <3rd percentile for age, and height >3rd centile), and chronic malnutrition (weight and height <3rd centile), based on the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Children with symptomatic congenital heart defects (Group I, number = 73) were also compared with those without symptoms (Group II, number = 79).
Results:
The study patients showed a higher frequency of both acute (27%) and chronic (24%) malnutrition (p<0.01). Children in Group I had a significant reduction in weight (p<0.01), height (p=0.02) and head circumference (p<0.01) compared to controls, however for those in Group II the differences were not significant. Acute malnutrition was higher in both groups, 31% (p<0.01) and 16% (p=0.04), whilst chronic malnutrition was significantly higher only in Group I, 31% (p<0.01). Infants in Group I were more frequently affected (33/45) compared to older children (13/28; p=0.02).
Conclusion:
Malnutrition remains a problem among children with congenital heart defects, especially in those with either heart failure or cyanosis, and symptomatic infants are the worst affected. Greater attention is required in the dietary management, early diagnosis and intervention to restore normal growth.