Associations between Anthropometric Indicators, Demographic Characteristics, and Nutritional Status in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease

Introduction The nutritional status of children is one of the major issues in CHD, which is considered an important factor in mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the relationships among anthropometric indicators, demographic information, and the severity of heart disease with nutritional status in CHD. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using a convenience sampling method on 127 children aged 1 to 17 years who were diagnosed with CHD in northeastern Iran. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, a researcher-made checklist of anthropometric indices, a nutritional status assessment checklist with Z-score index, a checklist of examinations and clinical assessments performed by pediatric cardiologists, and data obtained from the Quantum Magnetic Resonance Analyzer. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS-20 software at a significance level of P <0.05. Results Results found that cyanotic CHD was the most prevalent anomaly (60.6%), and most children (76.4%) had appropriate birth weights for gestational age. Greater severity of heart failure was associated with lower weight-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores (P=0.003 and P=0.031, respectively). Higher parental educational attainment was positively associated with height and mid-upper arm circumference (P=0.008 and P=0.022). Discussion Malnutrition is frequently observed among children with CHD. Malnutrition significantly impacts the anthropometric parameters, specifically the weight and height, of children with CHD. Conclusion Targeted nutritional interventions are recommended to mitigate the risk of malnutrition and facilitate the attainment of optimal weight and height.