Martin Poryo1, Laura Antonia Paes2, Thomas Pickardt3, Ulrike M M Bauer3, Sascha Meyer4, Stefan Wagenpfeil5, Hashim Abdul-Khaliq6. 1. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: martin.poryo@uks.eu. 2. Hospital for Children and Adolescents "on the Bult," Hannover, Germany. 3. Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany. 4. Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. 5. Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. 6. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Somatic development is impaired in children with congenital heart defects (CHDs), and head circumference seems to be a strong predictor of neurodevelopmental prognosis. The aim of this study was to generate up-to-date reference values for the somatic development (head circumference, body weight, and length/height) of children with CHDs. STUDY DESIGN: Our study population consisted of all patients included in the PAN study (Prävalenz angeborener Herzfehler bei Neugeborenen in Deutschland), which was conducted prospectively over a 3-year study period by the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects. All children with mild, moderate, and severe CHDs born in 2006-2009 in Germany were enrolled. For computing of z-scores, only children with the following characteristics were included: appropriate for gestational age, nonsyndromic disease, term or post-term delivery, and no cardiac surgery. RESULTS: There were 2818 patients included. New z-scores for the described somatic measures of children with mild, moderate, and severe CHDs were computed. Comparisons with the KiGGS study (Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland) and the Berlin Longitudinal Study revealed significantly lower measurements for all measures-most notably in children with severe CHDs and/or cardiac surgery. In our cohort, no catch-up growth was seen after cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: Children with severe CHDs demonstrated the most abnormal pattern in growth, including head circumference before and after cardiac surgery, which is indicative of accompanying brain pathology unrelated to operative injury.
OBJECTIVES: Somatic development is impaired in children with congenital heart defects (CHDs), and head circumference seems to be a strong predictor of neurodevelopmental prognosis. The aim of this study was to generate up-to-date reference values for the somatic development (head circumference, body weight, and length/height) of children with CHDs. STUDY DESIGN: Our study population consisted of all patients included in the PAN study (Prävalenz angeborener Herzfehler bei Neugeborenen in Deutschland), which was conducted prospectively over a 3-year study period by the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects. All children with mild, moderate, and severe CHDs born in 2006-2009 in Germany were enrolled. For computing of z-scores, only children with the following characteristics were included: appropriate for gestational age, nonsyndromic disease, term or post-term delivery, and no cardiac surgery. RESULTS: There were 2818 patients included. New z-scores for the described somatic measures of children with mild, moderate, and severe CHDs were computed. Comparisons with the KiGGS study (Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland) and the Berlin Longitudinal Study revealed significantly lower measurements for all measures-most notably in children with severe CHDs and/or cardiac surgery. In our cohort, no catch-up growth was seen after cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION:Children with severe CHDs demonstrated the most abnormal pattern in growth, including head circumference before and after cardiac surgery, which is indicative of accompanying brain pathology unrelated to operative injury.
Authors: George T Nicholson; Andrew C Glatz; Athar M Qureshi; Christopher J Petit; Jeffery J Meadows; Courtney McCracken; Michael Kelleman; Holly Bauser-Heaton; Ari J Gartenberg; R Allen Ligon; Varun Aggarwal; Derek B Kwakye; Bryan H Goldstein Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2019-12-19 Impact factor: 5.501