Failure to thrive in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease: a cross-sectional study of 13,256 patients.

Background: The prevalence and risk factors for failure to thrive (FTT) in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) remain ambiguous. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, growth profiles, risk factors, and vulnerable subtypes of CHD associated with FTT in pediatric patients with CHD.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on Chinese Database for Congenital Heart Surgery. FTT was defined as either stunting or underweight (height or weight standard deviation score <-2), and they were standardized by references of normal Chinese population. Risk factors was determined with logistic regression model, and growth profiles were delineated in each subgroup.

Findings: A total of 13,256 CHD patients were included in this study, with 3994 patients of mild CHD, 7195 patients of moderate CHD and 2067 patients of complex CHD. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and FTT was 24%, 29.3% and 36.9%, respectively. Preoperative anaemia, left ventricle systolic dysfunction, younger age, more complex CHD types, lower birth weight and genetic syndrome were found to be the risk factors for FTT in CHD patients. Interrupted aortic arch was revealed to be the most severe group associated with FTT.

Interpretation: FTT is ubiquitous in patients with CHD and exacerbated in high-risk subgroups. Our findings hinted the necessity of early identification and intervention for FTT in patients with CHD during daily practice of pediatrics, as it has the potential to improve outcomes and enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, we advocate for the initiation of prospective research with longitudinal data to comprehensively investigate the association between FTT and CHD across the lifespan.

Funding: This study was supported by National High Level Hospital Research Funding (2022-GSP-GG-19), Capital Health Research and Development of Special Fund (2022-1-4032) and National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC3600202 and 2022YFC3600203).