Malnutrition in Belgian children with congenital heart disease on admission to hospital

In paediatrics, body weight and height are two important growth parameters. Moreover, weight for height and height for age are useful tools for evaluation of acute and chronic malnutrition during childhood. The fact that children with congenital heart disease soon deviate from their birth percentiles for weight or height is common knowledge. However, the extent of this deviation in terms of malnutrition is less well documented. The aim of this study was to explore the presence and the extent of malnutrition among Belgian children with congenital heart disease on admission to hospital. A retrospective chart review of 300 children (aged 0-18 years) with congenital heart disease was conducted at a large Belgian university hospital. Results of this study show an increase in the frequency and severity of acute and chronic malnutrition after birth; more malnutrition in children with multiple heart defects than in those with single heart defects; more chronic malnutrition in children with heart failure, cyanosis or a combination of both and in children with additional non-cardiac anomalies; and less malnutrition in children who had never had surgery. The prevalence of malnutrition was not influenced by sex, nationality, nor reason for admission.