Prevalence and factors associated with thirst in children after congenital heart disease surgery: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Thirst is a prevalent and intense symptom experienced in children after congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery. Identifying independent risk factors for thirst is crucial for early prevention and management. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, severity, and influencing factors of thirst in children after CHD surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 153 children who underwent CHD surgery at a tertiary hospital in Fujian Province between December 2023 and April 2024. The incidence, severity, and distribution characteristics of thirst were assessed using the NRS score. The multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to identify the factors influencing thirst. Results: The incidence of thirst was 93.5%, with 5.2% of participants experiencing mild thirst, 9.8% experiencing moderate thirst, and 78.4% experiencing severe thirst. Univariate analysis indicated that the use of diuretics and opioids, blood sodium levels, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of water fasting, and both the APACHE-II and mYPAS scores were significant factors influencing postoperative thirst. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis identified CPB time, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of water fasting, APACHE-II score, and mYPAS score as independent predictors of postoperative thirst. Conclusions: The prevalence of thirst among children after CHD surgery was notably high and severe. CPB time, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of water fasting, APACHE-II score, and mYPAS independently influence the severity of thirst. Healthcare professionals should proactively assess the severity of thirst, incorporate the identified influencing factors into the development of targeted thirst management protocols, and initiate timely interventions.