Obesity trends in children, adolescents, and young adults with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence, age of onset, and risk factors for overweight and obesity in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Study Design Children with CHD who were seen at our institution from 1996 to 2017 were studied. Patients were full‐time residents of the United States and were receiving all cardiac care at our institution. Patients were categorized by age and CHD diagnosis. The date of last normal weight for age and the date of first recorded weight in the range of overweight and obese were documented. Results Nine hundred sixty‐eight patients with CHD were included. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.5% and 16.4%, respectively. For patients who became overweight or obese, the last recorded normal weight was between 6 and 10 years of age. Electrophysiologic disease and older age were risk factors for obesity. Conclusions Children with CHD have an increasing risk of becoming overweight and obese in early childhood. This study provides important information and identifies critical period to implement preventative measures and counsel families about the risk of obesity in CHD.

Improvement of physical activity levels in children and adolescents after surgery for congenital heart disease: preferences and use of physical therapy

“…Two years after heart surgery, the majority of patients did not meet the public health recommendations for health enhancing physical activity and were less active compared to their peers, which is in line with most previous studies [2][3][4][5][7][8][9]11].…”

“…Various studies on physical activity have underlined that in this patient group, an active lifestyle is very important to obtain and sustain good physical fitness. This is even more important in these patients as, compared to healthy peers, they have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in later life [2,3]. Postoperative rehabilitation could play a role in the promotion of physical activity, but unlike the widespread use of postoperative cardiac rehabilitation in adults, rehabilitation programs are not part of routine care for children after heart surgery to support an active lifestyle or good physical fitness.…”

Making every contact count: recognising obesity in paediatric and young adult cardiology

“…39,42 With increasing age, the incidence of overweight/obesity rose in line with the national average at 13.3% of children (n = 905). The prevalence of overweight/obesity amongst children with previous coarctation of aorta (n = 74) is 25.5% and in those with repaired atrial septal defects 21.5% (n = 64), 43,44 which is in line with rates reported elsewhere 31,45,46 and for those who became overweight/obese, the last recorded normal weight was between 6 and 10 years of age, which is comparable to children without CHD and linked to reduced levels of physical activity. 44 Children with CHD may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease compared to the general population, which may occur as a result of their underlying physiology and surgical sequelae; and as only a small proportion of individuals with CHD Cardiology in the Young have optimal cardiovascular health, there is a need to advocate healthy lifestyle in adolescence and adulthood.…”

Improving growth of infants with congenital heart disease using a consensus-based nutritional pathway

“…Although, the fall in WAZ between birth and both 4 and 12 months-of-age were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group, it is important to note that weight gain alone or improved weight for height does not indicate nutritional rehabilitation in the presence of stunting or low height for age, as it suggests there is insufficient nutrients to support linear growth, resulting in overweight stunted children [31], which is increasingly reported in older children with CHD [32]. As such improving linear growth during the first year of life is a priority and may reduce cardiovascular risk in later life [33].…”