Malnutrition and growth failure in cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heartdisease with and without pulmonary hypertension

Aim-To investigate the effect of several types of congenital heart disease (CHD) on nutrition and growth. Patients and methods-The prevalence of malnutrition and growth failure was investigated in 89 patients with CHD aged 1-45 months. They were grouped ac cording to cardiac diagnosis: group aP (n = 26), acyanotic patients with pu lmonary hypertension; group ap (n = 5), acyanotic patients without pulmonar y hypertension; group cp (n = 42), cyanotic patients without pulmonary hype rtension; and group cP (n = 16), cyanotic patients with pulmonary hypertens ion. Information on socioeconomic level, parental education status, birth w eight and nutrition history, number of siblings, and the timing, quality, a nd quantity of nutrients ingested during weaning period and at the time of the examination were obtained through interviews with parents. Results-There was no significant difference between groups in terms of pare ntal education status, socioeconomic level, duration of breast feeding, and number of siblings (p > 0.05). Group cP patients ingested fewer nutrients for their age compared to other groups. 37 of the 89 patients were below th e 5th centile for both weight and length, and 58 of 89 patients were below the 5th centile for weight. Mild or borderline malnutrition was more common in group aP patients. Most group cp patients were in normal nutritional st ate, and stunting was more common than wasting. Both moderate to severe mal nutrition and failure to thrive were more common in group cP patients. Conclusion-Patients with CHD are prone to malnutrition and growth failure. Pulmonary hypertension appears to be the most important factor, and cyanoti c patients with pulmonary hypertension are the ones most severely affected. This study shows the additive effects of hypoxia and pulmonary hypertensio n on nutrition and growth of children with CHD.