Severe obesity and global developmental delay in preschool children: Findings from a Canadian Paediatric Surveillance...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Obesity Research

Background:

• The co-occurrence of severe obesity (SO) and global developmental delay (GDD) in Canadian preschool children is not well-documented.
• SO and GDD may necessitate specific syndromic diagnoses and tailored management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the minimum incidence of co-occurring SO and GDD in Canadian children aged 5 years and under.
• To identify the age of onset and risk factors associated with this dual diagnosis.
• To examine health care utilization patterns for children with co-presenting SO and GDD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) with monthly reporting forms from February 2018 to January 2020.
• Included children aged 5 years and under with new diagnoses of SO and GDD.
• Employed descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis for collected data.

Main Results:

• Forty-seven cases were identified (64% male; mean age 3.5 years), with minimum incidence at 3.3 cases per 100,000 annually.
• Common co-occurring issues included behavioral problems, snoring, and asthma; maternal obesity and neonatal intensive care were noted risk factors.
• Genetic testing (microarray) was performed on 57% of children, and diverse clinical services were accessed, though family and service access challenges were reported.

Conclusions:

• Children with co-occurring SO and GDD present with multiple comorbidities requiring prompt identification and specialized care.
• Early referral to appropriate services and consideration of genetic testing for obesity syndromes are recommended.
• Addressing barriers to care for families is essential for effective management.