OP10.12: Early nutrition including fetal period in children with critical congenital heart defects plays crucial role in their long‐term growth

Abstract

Growth failure in neonates and infants with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) may negatively influence their neurodevelopmental outcomes. According to so called 'thrifty phenotype' hypothesis a reduced growth in the first 1000 day of life including fetal period may result in a tendency for an obesity and type 2 diabetes if such children are reared in an unhealthy lifestyle in later life. Aims of study was to estimate growth parameters in children with CHD who underwent surgery in the first year of their life. Study group consisted of 50 non-syndromic children with CCHD as follows: ventricular septal defect (34%), pulmonary stenosis or atresia (16%), coarctation of the aorta (18%), tetralogy of Fallot (10%) and transposition of great arteries (10%); others (12%). Anthropometrical data from medical records were retrospectively collected at the moment of the birth and age of six months, three and five years. Using the growth charts for the Czech population from The National Institute of Public Health, the patient's z-scores for height, weight, height-for-age and body mass index were calculated. The stunting was set as z-score for BMI < -2; growth failure as z-score for the height < -2. The prevalence of stunting was 17% at the birth, 21% at 6 months, 37% at 1 year, 8% at 3 years and 3.6% at 5 years of age. The prevalence of the growth failure was 17% at the birth, 11% at 6 months, 13% at 1 year, 16% at 3 years and 25% at 5 years of age. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of significant malnutrition in infants with CCHS during the first year of life. It was also shown that these children are at increased risk of impaired later growth. As far as growth failure in infancy have an impact on long-term neurodevelopment and quality of life, clinicians have to pay attention to feeding difficulties in infants with CCHD and to standardising their nutritional practice. Supported by Ministry of Health, Czech Republic – conceptual development of research organisation (FNOL, 0098892). Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.