Body mass index in adults with congenital heart disease

Low pre-albumin but not thiamine predicts cognitive deficits in adolescents post-Fontan and healthy controls

BACKGROUND

Low pre-albumin, body mass index, and thiamine levels have been associated with poor nutritional status and cognitive/memory deficits in adult heart failure patients. However, the relationship of these nutritional/dietary intake biomarkers to cognition has not been assessed in adolescents post-Fontan procedure and healthy controls.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Adolescents (14-21 years of age) post-Fontan completion were recruited from paediatric cardiology clinics and controls from the community. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was administered (normal ≥ 26), and blood draw (thiamine [normal 70-110 nmol/L] and pre-albumin levels [adolescent normal 23-45 mg/dL]) and the Thiamine Food Frequency Questionnaire were completed by all participants.

RESULTS

Seventy subjects, 40 post-Fontan (mean age 16 ± 1.6, female 51%, Hispanic 44%, hypoplastic left heart syndrome 26%) and 30 controls (mean age 16.8 ± 1.9, female 52%, Hispanic 66%), were participated. Post-Fontan group had lower median total cognitive scores (23 versus 29, p < 0.001), pre-albumin levels (23 versus 27, p = 0.013), and body mass index (20 versus 24, p = 0.027) than controls. Post-Fontan group had higher thiamine levels than controls (127 versus 103, p = 0.033). Lower pre-albumin levels (< 23) and underweight body mass index were associated with abnormal total cognitive scores (p = 0.030). Low pre-albumin level (p = .038) was an independent predictor of worse cognition.

CONCLUSION

Lower pre-albumin was an independent predictor for worse cognition in adolescents post-Fontan. Lower pre-albumin levels may reflect chronic liver changes or protein-losing enteropathy seen in Fontan physiology. These findings highlight the possibility for nutrition-induced cognitive changes.

Impact of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot Variants

Traditional cardiovascular risk factors put patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) at increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with variants of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Patients and parents of children with variants of TOF-CHD were asked to fill out the PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire and provide weight and length. Patients were categorized into low, normal, and high BMI percentiles. Other demographic data were obtained from the Swedish national registry for congenital heart disease (SWEDCON). Statistical analyses included non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher exact, and Chi-square tests. Eighty-five patients were included. Twelve were overweight or obese, 57 had a normal BMI, and 16 were underweight. There was a significant difference in age and gender between the groups. Comparing overweight/obese children to those with normal BMI, physical and social functioning were impaired, while emotional and school function were comparable between the groups. This applied to both child and parental assessment. When comparing underweight to normal weight children, school functioning assessed by the parent was the only domain significantly different from patients with a normal BMI. Children with variants of TOF and overweight/obesity have lower HRQoL, particularly in physical and social functioning, while underweight children may have impaired school functioning. We suggest that preventive measures aimed at maintaining a normal weight should be taken early in life to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk in the CHD population.

Τhe Burden of Obesity on Adult Survivors of Congenital Heart Disease, Past, and Future Directions

The ongoing obesity epidemic has started to ebb. However, as most children with congenital heart disease survive until adulthood, the burgeoning trend has started to spill over in the adult congenital heart disease population as well. This review aims to decipher the prevalence, outcomes, and future directions of obesity in adult survivors of congenital heart disease.

The prevalence of underweight and obesity in CHD. Response to body mass index and age are associated with ventricular end-diastolic pressure in adults with a Fontan circulation

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of obesity in children with CHD which is severe enough to require invasive catheterisation.

METHODOLOGY

This is a retrospective study in a cardiac catheterisation laboratory of a large paediatric hospital. The material consisted of 378 children from 2 to 19 years old who underwent heart catheterisation in the years 2011-2019. Their anthropometric data were collected, and the body mass index was calculated. The BMI centile was then calculated according to the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC). They were classified as overweight (85-95th centile), obese (> 95th centile), normal weight (5th-85 centile), and underweight (< 5th centile).

RESULTS

18.7% of children were underweight, 54.76% were normal weight, 11.64% were overweight, and 14.81% were obese. Overall, 26.45% of the children were overweight. Boys were more likely to have increased body weight than girls, but the difference was not statistically significant. The percentage of increased weight was similar in children with acyanotic CHD as well as heart disease from other causes. On the contrary, children with cyanotic heart disease were more likely to be younger and have a higher percentage of underweight children.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of obesity and overweight in children with CHD depend on the sex, age, and cardiopathy type. In addition, they agree with the findings that have been published in international series studies for children with CHD.

Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Obesity is a modifiable, independent risk factor for adverse long-term outcomes in children and adults. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obese status in a cohort of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) as well as to assess longitudinal trends over a 20-year period. The study group consisted of patients 18 years of age and older followed at our adult CHD clinic. Body mass index (BMI) data were collected from our index period, consisting of patient encounters from 2009 to 2012 (Period 2), as well as during 2000-2003 (Period 1) and 2017-2020 (Period 3) when available. The study cohort was subdivided into three groups per published guidelines: simple, moderate, and greater CHD complexity. The prevalence of obesity and overweight status was compared among the different groups as well as with published data (NHANES). Our cohort in Period 2 consisted of 261 subjects. The median age (25-75% interquartile range) for Period 2 was 27.6 (21.1-35.9) years and BMI was 25.2 (21.7-30.0) kg/m² with 8.0% underweight, 40.0% with normal weight, 27.0% overweight, and 25% obese. 95 patients had follow-up data from each time period, with 96% of patients having moderate or greater complexity of CHD. The combined percentage of overweight and obese patients for the moderate and greater complex CHD groups increased from 42 and 37% in period 1 to 60% and 65% in period 3, respectively. The percentage of obese patients with moderate and greater CHD complexity increased by 250% and 55%, respectively, from Period 1 to 3. Our study cohort had a high prevalence of overweight and obese weight status. Given adults with CHD have high baseline cardiovascular morbidity, the presence of obesity can increase their risk for poor outcomes, highlighting the need for prevention of this modifiable risk factor.

Overweight and Obesity in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Overweight and obesity have become a major public health concern in recent decades, particularly in patients with chronic health conditions like congenital heart disease (CHD). This systematic review elaborates on the prevalence and the longitudinal development of overweight and obesity in children and adults with CHD. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus from January 2010 to December 2020 on overweight and obesity prevalence in children and adults with CHD. Results: Of 30 included studies, 15 studies evaluated 5680 pediatric patients with CHD, 9 studies evaluated 6657 adults with CHD (ACHD) and 6 studies examined 9273 both pediatric patients and ACHD. Fifteen studies received the quality rating “good”, nine studies “fair”, and six studies “poor”. In children with CHD, overweight prevalence was between 9.5–31.5%, and obesity prevalence was between 9.5–26%; in ACHD, overweight prevalence was between 22–53%, and obesity was between 7–26%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was thereby similar to the general population. Overweight and obesity have been shown to increase with age. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults with CHD is similar to the general population, demonstrating that the growing obesity pandemic is also affecting the CHD population.

Sizing Up Fontan Failure: Association with Increasing Weight in Adulthood

Obesity has become increasingly recognized in adults with Fontan palliation, yet the relationship between weight changes in adulthood and Fontan failure is not clearly defined. We hypothesize that increasing weight in adulthood among Fontan patients is associated with the development of Fontan failure. Single-center data from adults with Fontan palliation who were not in Fontan failure at their first clinic visit in adulthood and who received ongoing care were retrospectively collected. Fontan failure was defined as death, transplant, diagnosis of protein losing enteropathy, predicted peak VO₂ less than 50%, or new loop diuretic requirement. Anthropometric data including weight and BMI were collected. Change in weight was compared between those that developed Fontan failure, and those that remained failure-free. To estimate the association between weight change during adulthood and the risk of developing Fontan failure, a survival analysis using multiple Cox's proportional hazards regression model was performed. Overall, 104 patients were included in the analysis. Those that developed Fontan failure had a larger associated median weight gain than those who remained failure-free (7.8 kg vs. 4.9 kg, respectively; p = 0.011). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, increased weight during adulthood was associated with increased likelihood of developing Fontan failure (HR 1.36; CI 1.07-1.73; p = 0.011). Weight gain in adulthood is associated with the development of Fontan failure.

Prevalence of Child Maltreatment in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease and Its Relationship With Psychological Well-Being, Health Behavior, and Current Cardiac Function

Background: The prevalence of child maltreatment in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) has not been assessed so far. Child maltreatment is a major risk factor for unfavorable behavioral, mental, and physical health outcomes and has been associated with decreased quality of life. Given the increased survival time of ACHD, it is essential to assess factors that may worsen the quality of life and interact with classical cardiovascular risk factors and mental well-being. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 196 ACHD (mean age 35.21 ± 11.24 y, 44,4% female, 55.6% male) completed a thorough psychiatric and cardiac evaluation. Child maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and rates were compared to already existing data from the German general population. Further psychological measurements included the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and assessment of lifestyle factors (exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index). To identify a relationship between current cardiac function and child maltreatment, we used logistic regression. Results: ACHD reported significantly higher rates of emotional neglect and emotional abuse and sexual abuse and lower rates of physical neglect when compared to the general German population. In addition, total CTQ-scores, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse correlated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and negatively correlated with QoL. Furthermore, CTQ scores contributed significantly in predicting higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) scores (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Child maltreatment is more common in ACHD and associated with decreased quality of life and depression and anxiety. Furthermore, we found evidence that self-reported child maltreatment is associated with decreased cardiac function. Given the longer survival time of patients with ACHD, identifying factors that may negatively influence the disease course is essential. The negative consequences of child maltreatment may be the subject of psychosocial interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in treating posttraumatic stress disorders.

Metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease in adults with congenital heart disease

In adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), conditions acquired with aging, such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, can negatively influence the original cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome has a higher prevalence in ACHD than in the general population. In contrast, coronary artery disease shows a similar prevalence in adults with acyanotic CHD and the general population, while adults with cyanotic CHD, even after repair, have an even lower incidence of coronary artery disease than the general population/adults with acyanotic CHD. However, even in those with cyanotic CHD, coronary artery disease can develop when they have risk factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking habit, or limited exercise. The prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is similar between ACHD and the general population, but an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis has been observed for congenital coronary artery anomalies, dextro-transposition of the great arteries after arterial switch operation, Ross procedure, and coarctation of the aorta. Aortopathy may be an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. As ACHD have other abnormalities that may make the heart more vulnerable to both the development of atherosclerosis and adverse cardiovascular sequelae, regular evaluation of their cardiovascular disease risk status is recommended. Metabolic syndrome is more common among ACHD than in the general population, and may therefore increase the future incidence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease even in ACHD. Thus, ACHD should be screened for metabolic syndrome to eliminate risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.