title: Growth curves in Down syndrome with congenital heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess dietary habits, nutritional status and food frequency in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and congenital heart disease (CHD). Additionally, we attempted to compare body mass index (BMI) classifications according to the World Health Organization (WHO) curves and curves developed for individuals with DS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study including individuals with DS and CHD treated at a referral center for cardiology, aged 2 to 18 years. Weight, height, BMI, total energy and food frequency were measured. Nutritional status was assessed using BMI for age and gender, using curves for evaluation of patients with DS and those set by the WHO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  68 subjects with DS and CHD were evaluated. Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) was the most common heart disease (52.9%). There were differences in BMI classification between the curves proposed for patients with DS and those proposed by the WHO. There was an association between consumption of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that individuals with DS are mostly considered normal weight for age, when evaluated using specific curves for DS. Reviews on specific curves for DS would be the recommended practice for health professionals so as to avoid precipitated diagnosis of overweight and/or obesity in this population.
authors.affiliation: MSc in Health Sciences - Nutritionist at the Instituto de Cardiologia / Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia (IC/FUC), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline D'Azevedo
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.affiliation: PhD in Health Sciences - Professor of Physical Education at the IC/FUC, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Ciceri
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cesa
authors.affiliation: PhD in Cardiovascular Sciences - Pediatric Cardiologist at the IC/FUC, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia Campos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pellanda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014810:Vitamin E