Comparative Study of the Nutritional Status of Children Aged 1-6 Years with Unoperated Congenital Heart Diseases in a Tertiary Hospital in Benin-City

Abstract

Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of malnutrition due to elevated metabolic demands, feeding difficulties and recurrent infections. Malnutrition adversely affects morbidity, surgical outcomes and survival, yet data from Nigeria and West Africa remain limited.

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of children with CHD and examine its association with socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices and types of cardiac lesions

Methods: A hospital- based comparative cross- sectional study was conducted among 100 children with echocardiographically confirmed CHD (cases) and 60 apparently healthy age- and sex matched controls. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using World Health Organisation growth standards.

Results: Most participants were toddlers (55 % of the cases and 60 % of the controls), and over half of the CHD cases were diagnosed during infancy. Acyanotic CHD predominated (70%), with ventricular septal defect being the most common lesion. Although the majority of children with CHD were well nourished, 24% were acutely malnourished. Wasting and underweight were significantly associated with CHD occurrence (p <0.001), whereas stunting showed no significant association. No significant relationship was observed between CHD category and gender, birth order, family size or nutritional status.

Conclusion: Children with unoperated CHD have a significantly higher burden of wasting and underweight compared with healthy peers. Integrating routine nutritional screening and targeted nutritional intervention into cardiac care pathways may improve growth outcomes in resource‑limited settings.