Beyond conventional anthropometry: Muscle‐related indicators and muscle strength in adults with congenital heart disease: A retrospective study with a comparison group

Anthropometric characteristics and muscle strength remain insufficiently characterized in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of the study was to characterize anthropometric indicators and muscle strength in hospitalized adults with CHD and examine differences according to cardiac lesion complexity. Exploratory comparisons with adults without CHD were performed as secondary analyses. This cross-sectional study included 109 hospitalized adults with CHD and an external convenience group of 115 adults without CHD. Body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), arm muscle area (AMA), corrected arm muscle area (cAMA), and handgrip strength (HGS) were assessed. Cardiac defects were classified as mild, moderate, or complex. Associations of lesion complexity and previous cardiac surgery with anthropometric indicators and HGS were examined using multivariable linear regression. Comparisons with adults without CHD were conducted as exploratory analyses using the same approach. Among adults with CHD, 57.8% had mild, 24.8% moderate, and 17.4% complex defects. Lesion complexity was associated with MAMC (P = 0.032); participants with complex defects had lower MAMC than those with mild defects (B = -2.44 cm; 95% CI: -4.26 to -0.63). Previous cardiac surgery was associated with higher BMI, MUAC, MAMC, and AMA. In adjusted exploratory comparisons, adults with CHD had lower weight, height, BMI, MUAC, MAMC, AMA, and HGS than adults without CHD, whereas TSF was similar. Values below reference ranges for BMI, MUAC, MAMC, cAMA, and HGS were more frequent in CHD. Greater lesion complexity was associated with lower MAMC, whereas previous cardiac surgery was associated with higher BMI, MUAC, MAMC, and AMA. Muscle-related anthropometric measures and HGS may provide complementary information beyond body size and adiposity in adults with CHD.