Nourishing Hearts: The Link Between Food Insecurity and Overall Health Status of Children with Congenital Heart Disease in U.S.

Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) require specialized care and may face worse outcomes if they experience food insecurity (FI). FI is associated with poor nutrition, hospitalizations, and developmental delays, compounding cardiac risks. Limited research evaluated impact of FI on health status among children with CHD. This study examines socioeconomic factors and the relationship between FI and health status in children with CHD. Methods: 2023 National Survey of Children?s Health (NSCH) data were used to compare rates of FI between children ages < 17 years with and without CHD and to assess overall health status of those with CHD. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariable logistic regression were utilized. Results: Among 53,477 children, 1,233(2%) had CHD. FI was reported in 35% of children with CHD vs. 27% without CHD(p=0.005). After adjustment, children with CHD had higher odds of FI (OR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.05?2.12). Hispanic ethnicity, residence in Midwest or South, lower household education, and lower poverty index were significantly associated with FI. Households receiving food assistance had higher FI. Living in grandparent household was associated with lower odds of FI. Within the CHD subgroup, 5% reported fair or poor health. Children with CHD experiencing FI had greater odds of fair or poor health than those without FI (OR 3.91, 95% CI 1.70?9.02; p=0.001). Conclusions: Children with CHD face higher odds of FI, which is strongly associated with worse reported health. Addressing socioeconomic vulnerability and FI may improve outcomes and reduce disparities in this high-risk population through targeted screening and intervention strategies nationwide. Keywords: Congenital Heart Disease, Food Insecurity Screening, National Survey of Children?s Health (NSCH), Health Disparities