Putri Amelia, Lourents Christian Dika Sahertian, Rizky Adriansyah, Johnson Kannady
Universitas Sumatera Utara. Adam Malik Hospital.
Indonesia
Public Library of Science One
PLoS One 2026; 21:
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351014
Abstract
Congenital heart disease contributes substantially to chronic morbidity, growth impairment, and repeated healthcare utilization among children. Evidence regarding nutritional burden and outpatient healthcare patterns among pediatric patients with congenital heart disease in Indonesia remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics, nutritional status, healthcare utilization, and factors associated with malnutrition among pediatric outpatients with congenital heart disease at Adam Malik General Hospital, Indonesia. A retrospective observational study was conducted using medical records of pediatric outpatients treated between January and December 2024. Demographic characteristics, cardiac diagnoses, nutritional status, complications, and outpatient visit history were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with malnutrition. A total of 606 pediatric outpatients were included. Non cyanotic congenital heart disease predominated the cohort, with ventricular septal defect representing the most common diagnosis followed by patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect. Nearly half of all patients demonstrated underweight or severe underweight nutritional status, while pulmonary hypertension emerged as the most frequent complication. Younger pediatric age groups and higher cumulative clinical burden were independently associated with greater odds of malnutrition. Children with congenital heart disease at this tertiary referral center carried a substantial nutritional and clinical burden. Routine nutritional screening, particularly among younger children and those with greater clinical burden may help identify patients who warrant closer nutritional assessment and multidisciplinary follow-up.
Category
Class I. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Congenital Cardiovascular Disease
Symptoms and Findings Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes