Undernutrition Burdens Young Children With Congenital Heart Disease in

A multicenter study published in Frontiers in Nutrition reports that nearly half of children under five with congenital heart disease (CHD) in northwestern Pakistan are undernourished, with the most severe deficits during infancy. Researchers analyzed 197 children with echocardiographically confirmed CHD from three tertiary hospitals in Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Results showed 44.2% underweight, 40.1% stunted, and 35.5% wasted—figures higher than Pakistan’s general averages from national surveys. The paper explains that CHD can drive elevated metabolic needs, feeding intolerance, impaired nutrient absorption, fluid restrictions, and chronic hypoxia, increasing vulnerability to infection and weakening growth. Data were collected between December 2024 and May 2025, excluding children with major additional conditions to isolate the combined CHD and nutrition burden.