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  • Original Article
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Changes in resting energy expenditure in children with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to relate changes in energy expenditure and growth in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), to the timing of corrective cardiac surgery.

Methods:

Prospective cohort study of infants less than 1 year with CHD admitted for cardiac surgery to Royal Children's Hospital, between January to September 2005. Infants were assessed using anthropometry and indirect calorimetry and compared to healthy age-matched controls.

Results:

Infants (38) underwent corrective (n=25) or palliative (n=13) cardiac surgery either at 10 days or at >10 days. Infants undergoing corrective surgery after 10 days had deficits in z-scores for weight compared with infants undergoing early surgery (−1.15±1.02 vs −0.24±0.98; CI 95%: −1.736 to −0.085; P<0.05) and height (−1.47±1.16 vs −0.12±0.66; CI 95%: −2.262 to −0.428; P<0.01). However, 6 months following surgery, weight and height were similar in both groups. Resting energy expenditure was increased before surgery compared to healthy controls (247±36 vs 210±22 kJ kg−1day−1; 95% CI: −57.29 to −16.71; P<0.001) however, normalized 1 week following cardiac surgery. Standard equations did not accurately predict measured REE.

Conclusion:

Increased REE observed in infants with CHD normalizes within 1 week following corrective cardiac surgery. Deficits in weight and growth were greater in infants undergoing corrective cardiac surgery>10 days of age compared with infants undergoing surgery in the first 10 days of life.

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Acknowledgements

The author (AN) was supported by a grant from the Mach–Gaensslen Foundation, Switzerland.

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Correspondence to J E Bines.

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Nydegger, A., Walsh, A., Penny, D. et al. Changes in resting energy expenditure in children with congenital heart disease. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 392–397 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602956

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