Systematic review reveals significant growth impairments and developmental delays in children with congenital heart disease, highlighting the need for early interventions.
Congenital heart disease (CHD), affecting ~1% of live births, is linked to growth impairment and neurodevelopmental delays in children. This PRISMA-guided systematic review analyzed PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Science Direct for studies on CHD patients (0–18 years) assessing growth (e.g., z-scores) and developmental outcomes (cognitive/motor/language delays). Risk of bias was evaluated using JBI tools. Among 10 included studies, children with CHD—especially cyanotic/complex types—showed significant growth deficits (e.g., 37% malnutrition) and neurodevelopmental delays (e.g., 28% motor delays). Contributing factors included reduced cerebral oxygen delivery and socioeconomic disparities (e.g., low maternal education). Early interventions (e.g., home-based exercise) improved motor outcomes (*p* < 0.001). Severe CHD strongly correlates with growth/developmental impairments. Early interventions may mitigate risks, but standardized assessments and multicenter studies are needed to optimize outcomes.
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Muhammad et al. (2025) studied this question.
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