Screening for nutritional risk in hospitalized children with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Objective To determine the nutritional risk in hospitalized children with congenital heart disease,and to correlate its relationship with the clinical outcome.Methods 460 hospitalized children with congenital heart disease in Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Nanjing Children Hospital were consecutively enrolled in the study.The children were screened using STRONG (Screening Tool for Risk on Nutritional status and Growth).Data were collected on the anthropometric measurement and biochemical indicators,need for nutrition support during hospitalization,postoperative infection rate,length of stay postoperatively and ICU care and hospital charges.Results High nutritional risks were found in 32.2％ and moderate nutritional risk in 67.8％.High nutritional risk was more common in younger infants (48.5 ％).Children with high nutritional risk had longer length of stay postoperatively [(12.65 ± 6.66) days vs (10.44 ± 5.22) days,P＜0.05]and ICU care [(3.29 ± 2.21) days vs (2.17 ± 1.79) days,P＜0.001].There were more hospital charges,as well as higher postoperative infection rate (45.9％ vs 32.1％,P＜0.05).166 (53.2％) children of moderate nutritional risk and 109 (73.6％) with high nutrition risk received nutrition support during hospitalization.Conclusions STRONG is correlated with the clinical outcome.Nutrition support is not yet appropriately performed.Evidence-based guideline is needed to improve this situation. Key words: Heart diseases,congenital; Malnutrition; Nutrition surveys