NUTRITIONAL AND ANAEMIA STATUS IN CHILDREN AGED 1–12 YEARS WITH KNOWN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE — A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN JAIPUR, INDIA

Abstract

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at high risk of malnutrition and anaemia due to multifactorial causes including increased energy requirements, feeding difficulty, malabsorption and delayed corrective surgery. Data from Indian tertiary centres are limited. (Based on thesis background.)  Aim: To evaluate nutritional status and anaemia among children aged 1–12 years with known CHD. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional observational study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur between December 2020 and July 2021. Children aged 1–12 years with known (preoperative) CHD were enrolled (n = 85). Anthropometry (weight, height, BMI) was plotted on WHO/IAP growth charts; nutritional status was classified by weight-for-age (IAP), height-for-age (Waterlow), weight-for-height and BMI centiles. Haematological evaluation included haemoglobin and red-cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) and RDW. Data were entered in Excel and analysed with SPSS v25; proportions compared with chi-square/Fisher’s exact test, continuous variables with t-test/Mann-Whitney as appropriate; p<0.05 considered significant. Results : Of 85 children, 57 (67.1%) had acyanotic CHD and 28 (32.9%) cyanotic CHD. Most patients (81.2%) were aged 12–59 months; M:F = 1.5:1. Overall 70.6% were underweight and 63.5% were stunted; wasting was present in 67.1% (varying degrees). Energy and protein intakes were frequently suboptimal (majority 50–75% of requirement). Anaemia prevalence differed by group: anaemia was more commonly detected in ACHD; polycythaemia was observed in some CCHD patients. MCV differences between ACHD and CCHD were statistically significant; other red-cell indices showed variable patterns. (Detailed results, tables and exact p values will be included in Step 2.) Conclusions: Malnutrition and anaemia are common in children with CHD at our centre — particularly underweight, stunting and wasting — and differ by cyanotic vs acyanotic lesions. Early nutritional assessment and targeted interventions (dietetic support, iron status evaluation) should be part of routine CHD care to improve outcomes.