Differences in Obesity Among Black and White Children, Adolescents, and Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors have an elevated risk for obesity-related comorbidities, but little is known about racial differences in obesity rates for this population. Objective The authors aimed to compare rates of obesity in CHD survivors to national estimates using National Health and Nutrition Examination Assessment Survey (NHANES) and to characterize racial disparities in obesity among CHD survivors across age ranges. Methods Retrospective chart review included 4496 CHD survivors (4050 white and 446 black) with a range of lesion severities from a pediatric and an adult medical center. Results White children with CHD had a higher prevalence of obesity compared with NHANES estimates. In contrast, white young adults with CHD had a lower prevalence of obesity compared with NHANES. Blacks with CHD had a 58% increased risk of obesity in young adulthood and a 33% increased risk in late adulthood compared with whites with CHD. Conclusions Obesity interventions are needed among CHD survivors across the lifespan, particularly among adult non-Hispanic blacks.