Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Despite the significant advancement in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery over the years, the mortality and morbidity rate in children undergoing CHD surgery is substantial, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Evidence shows that malnutrition contributes to morbidity and mortal...

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Main Authors: Qalab Abbas, Haider Ali, Akash Kumar Ahuja, Omaima Anis Bhatti, Shamila Ladak, Iraj Khan, Abdul Rehman, Shazia Mohsin, Ibrahim Shah, Aneela Ilyas, Laila Akbar Ladak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96374-z
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author Qalab Abbas
Haider Ali
Akash Kumar Ahuja
Omaima Anis Bhatti
Shamila Ladak
Iraj Khan
Abdul Rehman
Shazia Mohsin
Ibrahim Shah
Aneela Ilyas
Laila Akbar Ladak
author_facet Qalab Abbas
Haider Ali
Akash Kumar Ahuja
Omaima Anis Bhatti
Shamila Ladak
Iraj Khan
Abdul Rehman
Shazia Mohsin
Ibrahim Shah
Aneela Ilyas
Laila Akbar Ladak
author_sort Qalab Abbas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite the significant advancement in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery over the years, the mortality and morbidity rate in children undergoing CHD surgery is substantial, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Evidence shows that malnutrition contributes to morbidity and mortality in these children, with a negative impact on their surgical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative outcomes among patients with CHD. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000, to Mar 1, 2024. Twenty-one studies were included in the review with 22,621 malnourished and 60,402 well-nourished children undergoing CHD surgery. Malnourished children had a significantly longer LOS in the hospital, with a standard mean difference (SMD) of 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.88] days, a longer ICU stay (SMD 0.51 [95% CI 0.16–0.86] days), a higher RACHS-1/STAT score (SMD 1.72 [95% CI 1.32–2.25]), and a higher mechanical ventilation time (SMD 0.46 [95% CI 0.18–0.74] hours). However, there was no significant difference in mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.82 [95% CI 0.94–3.5], and postoperative infection rates (OR 1.27 [95% CI 0.05–35.02]) between the malnourished and well-nourished groups. Malnourished children undergoing CHD surgery experience significantly worse postoperative outcomes in terms of hospital and ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation time. Efforts to improve preoperative nutritional status could potentially enhance these outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-0bc0113bba7f4805b0b02e590fb3fb632025-08-20T03:04:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-96374-zPreoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysisQalab Abbas0Haider Ali1Akash Kumar Ahuja2Omaima Anis Bhatti3Shamila Ladak4Iraj Khan5Abdul Rehman6Shazia Mohsin7Ibrahim Shah8Aneela Ilyas9Laila Akbar Ladak10Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University HospitalMedical College, The Aga Khan UniversityMedical College, The Aga Khan UniversityMedical College, The Aga Khan UniversityMedical College, The Aga Khan UniversityDepartment of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan UniversityDepartment of Cardiovascular Sciences, Sindh Institute of Urology and TransplantationSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, The Aga Khan UniversitySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, The Aga Khan UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University HospitalAbstract Despite the significant advancement in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery over the years, the mortality and morbidity rate in children undergoing CHD surgery is substantial, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Evidence shows that malnutrition contributes to morbidity and mortality in these children, with a negative impact on their surgical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative outcomes among patients with CHD. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000, to Mar 1, 2024. Twenty-one studies were included in the review with 22,621 malnourished and 60,402 well-nourished children undergoing CHD surgery. Malnourished children had a significantly longer LOS in the hospital, with a standard mean difference (SMD) of 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.88] days, a longer ICU stay (SMD 0.51 [95% CI 0.16–0.86] days), a higher RACHS-1/STAT score (SMD 1.72 [95% CI 1.32–2.25]), and a higher mechanical ventilation time (SMD 0.46 [95% CI 0.18–0.74] hours). However, there was no significant difference in mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.82 [95% CI 0.94–3.5], and postoperative infection rates (OR 1.27 [95% CI 0.05–35.02]) between the malnourished and well-nourished groups. Malnourished children undergoing CHD surgery experience significantly worse postoperative outcomes in terms of hospital and ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation time. Efforts to improve preoperative nutritional status could potentially enhance these outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96374-zMalnutritionPediatric ICULength of stayMechanical ventilationMortalityPostoperative infection
spellingShingle Qalab Abbas
Haider Ali
Akash Kumar Ahuja
Omaima Anis Bhatti
Shamila Ladak
Iraj Khan
Abdul Rehman
Shazia Mohsin
Ibrahim Shah
Aneela Ilyas
Laila Akbar Ladak
Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Scientific Reports
Malnutrition
Pediatric ICU
Length of stay
Mechanical ventilation
Mortality
Postoperative infection
title Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort preoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Malnutrition
Pediatric ICU
Length of stay
Mechanical ventilation
Mortality
Postoperative infection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96374-z
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