Impact of Unoperated Congenital Heart Diseases on the Nutritional Status of Children in a Depressed Economy

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in children with congenital heart diseases has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of severe malnutrition in this category of children ranged between 31.5% and 42.5% in developing countries and this figure may be rising with the declining global economic and security profile. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of under-nutrition among children with un-operated congenital heart defects and the relationship between types of heart defects and nutritional status of the patients. Methods: A cross sectional study of the nutritional status of children with unoperated congenital heart diseases attending the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja was done. Results: Of the 63 patients enrolled, 50 patients were analyzed: 29 (58%) were males. Median age was 24 months, median weight was 7.4 kg and the median length/height was 70.5cm; 75% of the weight-for-age Z-scores and 60% of the height-for-age Z-scores were below the 5th percentile. 52% had moderate-to-severe malnutrition, 54% were stunted. 38 (76%) patients had acyanotic heart defects. Total protein was lower in stunted children than in the normal height group: 65.0±7.6 g/l vs.70.2±8.9 g/l, p=0.03. Hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia occurred in 10 (27.8%) and 8 (22.2%) undernourished children, respectively. Overall, serum albumin level correlated positively with patient’s weight-for-age percentile (p=0.008) and weight-for-height Z-score, p=0.026. Conclusion: Malnutrition is prevalent in children with congenital heart diseases in this community. Therefore, aggressive nutritional rehabilitation should form an integral part of the wholistic management of children awaiting surgical correction of their congenital heart diseases. Citation: Onalo R, Ajanaku IT, Dalili SM, Agbadi HE (2021) Impact of Unoperated Congenital Heart Diseases on the Nutritional Status of Children in a Depressed Economy. Cardiolog Res Cardiovasc Med 6: 167. DOI: 10.29011/2575-7083.100167 2 Volume 6; Issue 01 Cardiolog Res Cardiovasc Med, an open access journal ISSN: 2575-7083