Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Anthropometry Based Growth and Body Composition in Infants with Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Sharon Y Irving1,2, Chitra Ravishankar3, Mary Miller4
1University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, USA.
Insights
Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) show complex growth patterns, with lower weight, length, and head circumference (HC) in the first nine months. Body composition also varies, particularly in infants with single ventricle physiology.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Growth and development studies
- Body composition analysis
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) in infants is frequently associated with impaired growth and altered body composition, affecting fat and muscle accretion.
- Understanding these growth disturbances is crucial for managing infants with CHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the longitudinal growth patterns and body composition of infants with CHD.
- To utilize interval measurements of weight, length, head circumference (HC), skinfolds (TSF, SSSF), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) to assess growth.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 120 infants was studied, including healthy infants and those with CHD (categorized by single ventricle [SV] or two-ventricle [2V] physiology).
- Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, HC, TSF, SSSF, MUAC) were collected at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.
Main Results:
- Infants with CHD exhibited lower weight, length, and HC z-scores at 3, 6, and 9 months compared to healthy controls.
- At 9 months, infants with SV physiology showed significantly larger triceps skinfold (TSF) and subscapular skinfold (SSSF) z-scores than those with 2V physiology or healthy infants.
- Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) z-scores were lower in infants with CHD at 3 and 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Infants with CHD display intricate growth trajectories and body composition changes.
- Longitudinal monitoring of growth parameters and body composition is essential for a comprehensive understanding of these complex patterns in infants with CHD.
Background:
Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) often have poor growth and altered body composition (fat and muscle accretion).
Aim:
Describe growth patterns in infants with CHD using interval weight, length, head circumference (HC), triceps (TSF), subscapular skinfolds (SSSF), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements.
Subjects And Methods:
A total of 120 infants enrolled: 48% healthy and 58% with CHD (45% single ventricle [SV]; 55% two ventricle [2V] physiology). Weight, length, HC, TSF, SSSF, and MUAC measured at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months of age.
Results:
CHD infants had lower weight, length, and HC z-scores at 3-, 6-, and 9-months. At 9-months, infants with SV physiology had larger TSF and SSSF z-scores over 2V and healthy infants. Overall MUAC z-scores were smaller at 3- and 6-months in infants with CHD.
Conclusison:
Infants with CHD have a complex pattern of growth. Longitudinal growth and body composition measurements provide information to better understand this pattern.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...