Association of Congenital Heart Defects with Growth and Developmental Disorders in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review

Amir Fayyaz Shaikh Sardar Muhammad; Ibrahim Mugbil Wadi Alanazi; Kawthar Alawi S.  Al Majid; Rawan Ibrahim  Sangoura; Fatimah Mohammed  Al Sarrar; Abrar Mohammednoor Mulla Gashgari; Amer Musa  Al-Qarni; Yousef  Alshahwan; Jazza Aamir Fayyaz Muhammad; Rahaf Fateh  Al-Khalagi

doi:10.54293/smhj.v5i3.165

Authors

Amir Fayyaz Shaikh Sardar Muhammad Consultant Pediatrician, Maternity and Children Hospital, Arar, KSA.
Ibrahim Mugbil Wadi Alanazi General Practitioner (MBBS), Maternity and Children Hospital, Arar, KSA.
Kawthar Alawi S. Al Majid General Practitioner (General Medicine and Surgery), Maternity and Children Hospital, Al Ahsa, KSA. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7750-2993
Rawan Ibrahim Sangoura Medical Student (General Medicine and Surgery), Ibn Sina National College, Jeddah, KSA.
Fatimah Mohammed Al Sarrar General Practitioner (General Medicine and Surgery), Primary Healthcare Center, Al Rasras, Khamis Mushayt, KSA.
Abrar Mohammednoor Mulla Gashgari Pediatric Registrar, Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, KSA.
Amer Musa Al-Qarni Medical Intern (General Medicine and Surgery), Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Qunfudhah, KSA.
Yousef Alshahwan Medical Student (General Medicine and Surgery), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, KSA. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3078-2986
Jazza Aamir Fayyaz Muhammad Medical Student (General Medicine and Surgery), Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1052-0488
Rahaf Fateh Al-Khalagi Medical inter, bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7248-1046

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54293/smhj.v5i3.165

Keywords:

Congenital heart disease (CHD), Neurodevelopmental delay, Growth retardation, Early childhood development, Cyanotic heart defects, Motor and cognitive impairment, Systematic review

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD), affecting ~1% of live births, is linked to growth impairment and neurodevelopmental delays in children. This PRISMA-guided systematic review analyzed PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Science Direct for studies on CHD patients (0–18 years) assessing growth (e.g., z-scores) and developmental outcomes (cognitive/motor/language delays). Risk of bias was evaluated using JBI tools. Among 10 included studies, children with CHD—especially cyanotic/complex types—showed significant growth deficits (e.g., 37% malnutrition) and neurodevelopmental delays (e.g., 28% motor delays). Contributing factors included reduced cerebral oxygen delivery and socioeconomic disparities (e.g., low maternal education). Early interventions (e.g., home-based exercise) improved motor outcomes (*p* < 0.001). Severe CHD strongly correlates with growth/developmental impairments. Early interventions may mitigate risks, but standardized assessments and multicenter studies are needed to optimize outcomes.