Nutritional status of children with congenital heart diseases at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Congenital Heart Disease (CUD) is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Poor nutritional status is one of the clinical manifestations. The extent of deviation from the normal weight and/or height has not been adequately documented in Nigeria. Study design: This cross-sectional study, conducted between April 2011 and June 2012 (fourteen months), involved 151 Nigerian children comprising 96 males and 55 females aged between one and 60 months. Nutritional status of the children was assessed using weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (where appropriate), triceps and subscapular skin fold thicknesses. The z-scores of the anthropometric data were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) Standard reference charts. Results: The mean age of the children was 17.3±15.7 months. The male: female ratio was 1.7:1. The overall frequency of malnutrition was 72.8%. Severe malnutrition was found in 36.4% of the children, with the frequency of underweight being 64.2%, that of wasting 37.7% and of stunting 57.0%. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition in Nigerian children with C HD is very high. Appropriate management of the heart disease together with routine nutritional screening and counselling arc likely to benefit children with CHD in order to improve management outcomes. Early corrective interventions, including surgery, need to be intensified.