Nutritional Status in Congenital Heart Defects compared to healthy children

What is it about?

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are birth abnormalities of the heart that can range from mild to severe and are a major cause of illness and death in children. Many children with CHD also suffer from poor nutrition, which makes treatment more difficult, recovery slower, and increases the risk of developmental problems. This study examined 1,678 children with unoperated CHD attending a pediatric heart centre in India and compared them with 11,894 healthy community children. Growth measurements were analyzed using World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Results showed that malnutrition was far more common in CHD patients—62% were underweight, 41% stunted, and 54% wasted—compared to 29%, 31%, and 14% among healthy children. Children with CHD were seven times more likely to be wasted, four times more likely to be underweight, and 1.6 times more likely to be stunted. This large study highlights that undernutrition is significantly higher in children with CHD, emphasizing the need for early nutrition assessment, timely treatment, and individualized nutritional care in pediatric heart patients.

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Why is it important?

This highlights a critical but often overlooked aspect of caring for children with heart defects—their nutritional health. Malnutrition in these children not only worsens heart-related problems but also delays surgery, increases hospital stays, and affects brain and physical development. By identifying the high rates of undernutrition and the factors that make it worse, such as pulmonary hypertension and low birth weight, this research provides evidence to strengthen early nutrition screening and support programs. Designing tailored nutrition in children with CHD can significantly enhance their recovery, growth and quality of life. The findings call for integrating nutritional management into pediatric cardiac care right from the time of diagnosis.

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