Modifiable Health Behaviours in Children with HCM: Lessons from the Heart Health Survey

Obesity factors into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)-related risk as a disease modifying environmental factor. Behaviours such as diet and sleep are seldom reported upon in children with HCM. It was our aim to report on these factors in this population. A multicenter cross-sectional study recruited children and teens with HCM aged 10-19 years old from 10 Canadian pediatric care sites. Patient demographics were obtained from review of medical charts. Participants completed the Healthy Hearts Survey, involving 92 questions related to family health history, personal health, smoking, nutrition, and physical or sedentary activity. A cohort of n = 56 patients with median (IQR) age of 15.5 (13.8-16.8) years were enrolled. Over half (53.6%) were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI, with 75% under activity restriction. Consumption of sugar-rich and starchy foods alongside skipping of meals (43.6%) and snacking (87.5%) were reported. A desire to lose weight was prevalent (48.2%) despite general perceptions of good health. Participants slept a median duration of 8 (7.4-9.0) hours on weekdays, however, sleep disturbances were widely reported. A majority (96.4%) reported less than 20 min of exercise per day over the course of the week. Unhealthy patterns regarding diet, sleep, and physical or sedentary activities that associate with cardiovascular risk are present within children with HCM. These habits may worsen disease burden in children with HCM. It is unclear how activity restriction factors into such patterns. There are modifiable lifestyle factors in children with HCM which, if addressed, could positively impact cardiovascular risk.