Anthropometric Measurements And Bone Age In Children With Congenital Heart Disease At Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

In order to document the growth of children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in this part of East Africa, anthropometric measurements and bone ages ,of 175 children aged 0 to 12 years with CHD attending

the paediatric cardiology clinic (PCC) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) between February 1985 and January 1986 were taken. These results were compared to those of 175 normal children matched for age, sex, and socio-economic statJs. The controls

were recruited from the nearby child welfare clinic, paediatric filter clinic, nursery schools, ana primary schools. CHD was an incidental finding in some patients and an obvious cause of failure to thrive in others. As many as 164/175 (93.7%) of the patients had heights

below control values, 156/175 (89.1%) had weights below control values, and 150/175 (85.7%) had both heights and weights below control values." 1491175 (84.6%) of

the patients had bone ages below control values,

142/175 (81.1%) had mid upper arm circumferences (MUAC) below controls, 136/175 (77.7%) had skinfold thickness (SFT) below controls, 124/175 (70.9%) had chest circumferencesbelow controls and 110/175 (62.9%) had smaller head circumferences compared to the normal controls. There was no statistically significant

difference in the anthropometric lneasurements and bone ages of children with the different cyanotic ana acyanotic cardiac lesions. Incidentally the bone ages of the c6ntrols were more advanced in the £irst

36 months of life compared to t~e standards for the European counterparts used. This clearly demonstrated the need for local standards for bone age. Early correctivE surgery where possible would prevent permanent anatomic and funtional effects of CRD. Studies to elucidate the mechanism of growth failure in chifdren with CRD were recommended.