AUTHOR=Depoortere Suzanne , Lapillonne Alexandre , Sfeir Rony , Bonnard Arnaud , Gelas Thomas , Panait Nicoleta , Rabattu Pierre-Yves , Guignot Audrey , Lamireau Thierry , Irtan Sabine , Habonimana Edouard , Breton Anne , Fouquet Virginie , Allal Hossein , Elbaz Frédéric , Talon Isabelle , Ranke Aline , Abely Michel , Michel Jean-Luc , Lirussi Borgnon Joséphine , Buisson Philippe , Schmitt Françoise , Lardy Hubert , Petit Thierry , Chaussy Yann , Borderon Corinne , Levard Guillaume , Cremillieux Clara , Tolg Cécilia , Breaud Jean , Jaby Olivier , Grossos Céline , De Vries Philine , Arnould Myriam , Pelatan Cécile , Geiss Stephan , Laplace Christophe , Kyheng Maéva , Nicolas Audrey , Aumar Madeleine , Gottrand Frédéric TITLE=Nutritional status at age 1 year in patients born with esophageal atresia: A population-based, prospective cohort study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=10 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.969617 DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.969617 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=Objective

Despite recent progress in caring for patients born with esophageal atresia (EA), undernutrition and stunting remain common. Our study objective was to assess nutritional status in the first year after birth with EA and to identify factors associated with growth failure.

Study design

We conducted a population-based study of all infants born in France with EA between 2010 and 2016. Through the national EA register, we collected prenatal to 1 year follow-up data. We used body mass index and length-for-age ratio Z scores to define patients who were undernourished and stunted, respectively. Factors with P < 0.20 in univariate analyses were retained in a logistic regression model.

Results

Among 1,154 patients born with EA, body mass index and length-for-age ratio Z scores at 1 year were available for about 61%. Among these, 15.2% were undernourished and 19% were stunted at the age of 1 year. There was no significant catch-up between ages 6 months and 1 year. Patients born preterm (41%), small for gestational age (17%), or with associated abnormalities (55%) were at higher risk of undernutrition and stunting at age 1 year (P < 0.05). Neither EA type nor surgical treatment was associated with growth failure.

Conclusion

Undernutrition and stunting are common during the first year after birth in patients born with EA. These outcomes are significantly influenced by early factors, regardless of EA type or surgical management. Identifying high-risk patient groups with EA (i.e., those born preterm, small for gestational age, and/or with associated abnormalities) may guide early nutritional support strategies.