ASPO102 - Feeding Difficulties in Turner Syndrome Patients
Sunday, May 1, 2022
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM CT
Location: Landmark B
iffany T. Pham, MD, MS1, Maxene R. Meier, MS2, Shanlee M. Davis, MD3, Sarah A. Gitomer, MD4;
1Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Univ. of Colorado Denver- Anschutz Med. Campus, Aurora, CO, 2Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado Sch. of Publ. Health, Aurora, CO, 3Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, Children’s Hosp. of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 4Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hosp. of Colorado, Aurora, CO.
Resident Physician University of Colorado School of Medicine
Introduction: Studies have suggested a high rate of feeding difficulties in the Turner Syndrome (TS) population. Herein, we aim to provide an updated and large retrospective analysis of feeding difficulties in TS patients under 6 years of age. We aim to identify comorbidities and weight-for-length growth curve changes associated with feeding difficulties in TS.
Methods: TS patients seen at Children’s Hospital of Colorado between 2007 and 2019 prior to age 6 years, and without metabolic/malabsorption disorders were identified. Patient history and growth curves were stratified by the presence of feeding disorder diagnosis (FDD) (made by an occupational therapist, speech therapist, or dietician) and compared using t-tests or chi-square tests.
Results: A total of 134 patients were studied. Sixty patients (45%) had parent reported history of feeding difficulties, while34 patients (25%) were diagnosed with FDD. Patients with FDD were born at younger gestational age compared to patients without FDD (37.2 ± 3.1 vs. 38.2 ± 1.7, p-value (p) = 0.023). Patients with FDD were more likely diagnosed with congenital heart disease (85% vs. 53%, p < 0.001), including the presence of a ventricular septal defect (26.5% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.005), atrial septal defect (32% vs. 13%, p = 0.011), patent foramen ovale (61% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), and coarcation of the aorta (61% vs. 21%, p < 0.001). Patients with FDD were also more likely diagnosed with slow weight gain (23% vs. 68%, p < 0.001) and failure to thrive (15% vs. 59%, p < 0.001). More FDD patients dropped greater than 5% (85% vs. 57%, p = 0.003) and greater than 10% (85% vs. 55%, p = 0.002) on the weight-for-length curve compared to patients without FDD.
Conclusion: Parent reported history of feeding difficulties and FDD are common in TS. A FDD in the TS patient is associated with significant comorbidities and drop offs on the growth curve. Early identification of FDD in the TS patients is imperative for timely intervention.