NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND CONGENITAL CARDIOPATHY

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional status of patients with Down Syndrome (DS) and congenital heart defect (CHD). A transversal study which assessed the nutritional profile of DS and CHD patients between 0 and 18 years of age was done. Weight and stature, both at birth and current were considered. A total of 98 patients, 56% female were analyzed. Prevalence of low weight, overweight and low stature at the current anthropometric data (CAD) was 30%, 22% and 17%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between malnutrition at birth and the CAD (p < 0.01). The current weight/age (W/A) ratio showed significant increase as compared to birth W/A (p= < 0.05). In addition, there was also stature recovery based on stature/age (S/A) ratio (p < 0,001). In conclusion, at birth, these patients present stature and weight deficit but as age advances there is a stature improvement; however it is not properly accompanied by the weight, since there is a tendency towards overweight in puberty.