FACTORS AFFECTING PHYSICAL GROWTH AMONGST CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARDIAC CARE CENTER IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Introduction: Children of sub-Saharan African (SSA) born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in whom corrective surgery is not done may suffer poor physical growth either due to the prevalent under nutrition in the region or the effect of their cardiac disease. The current study aimed to see factors of poor physical growth among these group.

Objective: to determine factors of poor growth among children with un-corrected congenital heart disease. Materials and

methods : this is a case-control study conducted in a tertiary pediatric cardiac care center in Addis Ababa. -. The study subjects were CHD cases with affected growth parameters while the controls were : CHD cases with normal growth parameter. Data were analyzed using SPSS and WHO ANTHRO software.

Results: The median age was 42 months. Stunting, underweight and wasting occurred in 52%, 79% and 62% respectively. Odds of exposure to low socioeconomic class, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, recurrent chest infection, cyanosis, were significantly higher in cases than in controls with p-value < .004, <.001, <.000, < .006, and <.025 respectively. When regression analysis was made on binary logistic model, only congestive heart failure (<.04), recurrent chest infection (<.04) and low socioeconomic class (< 0.01) remain significantly associated.

Conclusion and recommendation: hemodynamic factors of un-corrected cardiac disease and being low socioeconomic class remain factors of poor physical growth in children with congenital heart disease-: Circumventing severe growth failure in children with CHD is a call for urgent action.