Body composition in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and residual pulmonary regurgitation

Abstract

The body composition of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and residual pulmonary regurgitation (PR) was compared to that of healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Testing included height, weight, skinfolds, skeletal widths, circumferences, bio-electrical impedance (for estimation of total body water from resistance index), hydrostatic weighing, bone mineral content from single photon absorptiometry, and an assessment of maturational status. Activity levels were assessed by questionnaires and an accelerometer. The two groups were found to be different in height, skeletal widths, bone mineral content, bone mineral index and total body water determined by bio-electrical impedance. After adjusting the data for height differences, the groups were different for skeletal widths and bone mineral index. The PR and control subjects had similar skinfolds and circumferences, as well as percent fat determined by body density, body water and bone mineral content.