Obesity across the lifespan in congenital heart disease survivors: Prevalence and correlates

Abstract

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors are at risk for cardiovascular comorbidities exacerbated by obesity.

Objectives: Determine relationships between overweight/obesity and medical factors across the lifespan of CHD.

Methods: Lesion severity, weight, blood pressure, cardiac and other comorbidities, and cardiac medications were abstracted from the medical records of 3790 CHD patients, aged ≥6 years, who attended CHD care in the Midwestern U.S.

Results: The proportion of patients with overweight/obesity increased across the lifespan, with 73% of adults affected by overweight/obesity. Obesity was more prevalent among patients with moderate lesions (29%). Overweight/obesity was associated with elevated blood pressure across age and lesion severity. Young adults with obesity and simple or moderate lesions had more comorbidities (simple: IRR = 3.1, moderate: IRR = 2.3) and cardiac medications (simple: IRR = 2.2, moderate: IRR = 1.7).

Conclusions: Obesity and its cardiovascular correlates are present across the lifespan for CHD survivors, highlighting the need for early prevention and intervention.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Lifespan; Obesity; Overweight.