Peer-reviewed article
Nutritional Issues in Children with Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs).
Giovanna Fernanda Vazzana, Alessia Romano, Claudio Romano ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This review examines malnutrition in children with congenital heart disease, a condition affecting their growth and recovery. Children with heart defects face higher nutritional risks due to increased energy needs, reduced food intake, and poor nutrient absorption. The document discusses how to identify malnutrition early, assess nutritional status, and provide tailored feeding support including human milk and energy-dense foods. Integrating nutrition care with heart disease management can improve both immediate and long-term health outcomes for these children.
Key points
- Malnutrition in children with CHDs results from multiple factors: increased metabolic demands, reduced dietary intake, and altered nutrient absorption
- Early identification through screening combined with individualized nutritional support and multidisciplinary care is essential
- Feeding difficulties and micronutrient imbalances are common concerns requiring special attention
- Human milk and energy-dense feeding approaches support growth in this population
- Future research should develop standardized, evidence-based protocols and precision nutrition approaches
Limitations
This is a narrative review that summarizes existing knowledge rather than presenting new research data or testing an intervention. It does not provide prevalence statistics, outcome measurements, or evidence from specific studies that would allow assessment of which nutritional strategies are most effective.
Abstract
Infants and children with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are especially susceptible to malnutrition. The pathogenesis of nutritional disorders in this population reflects a multifactorial balance between increased metabolic demands, reduced dietary intake, and altered nutrient absorption. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge on the prevalence, risk factors, and underlying mechanisms of malnutrition in paediatric CHDs. It also discusses available tools for nutritional assessment, practical strategies for dietary management, and perioperative considerations. Early identification through screening, combined with individualized nutritional support and multidisciplinary care, is essential to optimize growth and enhance clinical recovery. Special attention is given to feeding difficulties, micronutrient imbalances, and the contribution of human milk and energy-dense feeding approaches in promoting growth. Integrating nutrition into cardiac management is essential to improve both short- and long-term outcomes. Future research should focus on the development of standardized, evidence-based protocols and the implementation of precision nutrition in paediatric CHDs.