Publication:

Myocardial performance index in severe acute malnutrition children aged 6 month to 5 years

Background Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is one of the most common health problems. Children suffering from SAM frequently exhibit cardiovascular abnormalities leading to morbidity and mortality. We evaluated myocardial performance index (MPI) to measure both systolic and diastolic functions of the heart.

Methods Hospital based prospective study in which we enrolled 100 children with SAM aged 6 months to 5 years admitted in malnutrition treatment centre (MTC), Bal Chikitaslya, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. All the children underwent a detailed clinical and echocardiographic evaluation. The different echocardiographic variables along with MPI were calculated.

Results Out of 100 children majority of study population was in <-3SD, Z-score and <-4 SD, Z-score (63%), although extremes like <-5 SD to <-7SD, Z-score were also noted in 35% of children. In echocardigraphic variables ventricular function as mean ejection fraction was normal (70.69±9.57). The mean MPI was 0.41±0.11 with p-value of <0.001.

Conclusions MPI in SAM children was abnormally high inspite of normal ejection fraction. This can be used in children with SAM as early marker of ventricular dysfunction even before ejection fraction starts declining.