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The effects of malnutrition on cardiac function in African children

Jonathan A Silverman1, Yamikani Chimalizeni2, Stephen E Hawes3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 11, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Severe malnutrition did not significantly impact cardiac function in hospitalized African children. However, blood pressure and vascular resistance were lower in malnourished children, suggesting potential cardiovascular changes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Severe acute malnutrition is a critical concern in pediatric populations, associated with high mortality rates.
  • Cardiac dysfunction is suspected as a contributing factor to mortality in severely malnourished children.
  • Understanding the impact of malnutrition on cardiac function is crucial for improving clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of severe acute malnutrition on cardiac function in hospitalized African children.
  • To compare key cardiac parameters between malnourished and well-nourished children.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a public referral hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
  • 272 stable, hospitalized children aged 6-59 months, with and without severe acute malnutrition, were enrolled.
  • Cardiac index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, stroke volume index, and systemic vascular resistance index were measured using ultrasound cardiac output monitoring (USCOM).

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was observed in cardiac index, heart rate, or stroke volume index between children with and without severe malnutrition.
  • Children with severe malnutrition exhibited lower mean arterial pressure (difference = -8.6 mm Hg) and systemic vascular resistance index (difference = -200 dyne s/cm(5)/m(2)).

Conclusions:

  • This study, the largest to date, found no significant difference in overall cardiac function between hospitalized children with and without severe acute malnutrition.
  • Lower mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index in malnourished children warrant further investigation.
  • Additional research is needed to explore cardiac function in unstable malnourished children.
Abstract

Keywords:
CardiologyNutritionPhysiologyTropical Paediatrics

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