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Prevalence of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Congenital Heart Disease: A Scoping Review

Vivienne Norman1,2, Liesl Zühlke3,4, Katherine Murray1

  • 1Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|April 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Feeding and swallowing difficulties are common in children with congenital heart disease, affecting over 40%. Early assessment and management are crucial for improving health outcomes and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Feeding and swallowing difficulties are frequent comorbidities in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).
  • These issues negatively impact child health and caregiver quality of life.
  • Understanding the prevalence is key for integrated care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a scoping review summarizing the published literature on the prevalence of feeding and swallowing difficulties in children with CHD.
  • To provide an integrated overview of current research findings.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive search of relevant databases was performed.
  • Fifteen peer-reviewed articles published in English within the last 25 years were included.
  • Studies encompassed participants from premature infants to 17-year-olds.

Main Results:

  • A pooled prevalence of 42.9% for feeding and swallowing difficulties was reported across studies.
  • Aspiration was reported in 32.9% of affected children.
  • Prevalence varied due to participant age, and differing definitions/assessments of feeding and swallowing issues.

Conclusions:

  • Feeding and swallowing difficulties are indeed common in infants and children with congenital heart defects.
  • These challenges necessitate inclusion in standard care protocols.
  • Routine assessment and management are recommended as part of the standard of care for pediatric CHD patients.

Keywords:
aspirationcongenital heart diseasedysphagiainfantsswallowing

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