Neonatal Inflammation and Feeding Disorders at 1 Year in Infants With Congenital Gastrointestinal Malformations.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the associations between inflammatory markers and the risk of paediatric feeding disorders (PFD) at 1 year of age in infants with congenital gastrointestinal malformations (CGMs).

Methods: Neonates with CGMs admitted to our NICU and prospectively followed up in our outpatient clinic were included. The presence of PFD was assessed at the 1-year visit using the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS). Data on potential risk factors for PFD were retrospectively collected.

Results: Fifty-nine neonates were included. They had a median MCH-FS at 1 year of 25 [IQR = 19-37]. PFD (MCH-FS > 45) was diagnosed in 15% of cases, of which 56% were severe. The number of days with a C-reactive protein (CRP) level > 40 mg/L was significantly higher in the PFD patients. After adjusting for confounding factors, a duration of CRP > 40 mg/L remained significantly associated with PFD at 1 year (OR = 1.23, [1.02-1.47]). Similarly, the number of neonatal surgical procedures (OR = 11.4, [2.15-60.6]) was independently associated with PFD at 1 year.

Conclusion: PFD at 1 year was observed in 15% of newborns with CGMs in our cohort. Our results suggest that sustained severe inflammation caused by surgery and its complications during the neonatal period may have long-term effects on feeding behaviour.