Habitual physical activity in patients born with oesophageal atresia: a multicenter cross-sectional study and comparison to a healthy reference cohort matched for gender and age

Oesophageal atresia (EA) is associated with life-long gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity and other associated malformations. The aim of this study is to compare physical activity (PA) levels of children and adolescents with and without EA. A validated questionnaire (MoMo-PAQ) was used to evaluate PA in EA patients EA (4–17 years), who were randomly matched for gender and age (1:5) with a representative sample of the Motorik-Modul Longitudinal Study (n = 6233). Sports activity per week (sports index) and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week (MVPA minutes) were calculated. Correlations between PA and medical factors were analysed. In total, 104 patients and 520 controls were included. Children with EA were significantly less active at higher intensities (mean MPVA minutes 462; 95% confidence interval (CI): 370–554) compared to controls (626; 95% CI: 576–676), although there was no statistically significant difference in the sports index (187; 95% CI: 156–220 versus 220; 95% CI: 203–237). A lower mean weight-for-age and height-for-age, additional urogenital (r =  − 0.20, p = 0.04) or anorectal malformation (r =  − 0.24, p = 0.01) were associated with fewer MVPA minutes. For other medical factors (prematurity, type of repair, congenital heart disease, skeletal malformation or symptom load), no statistically significant association with PA was found. Conclusion: EA patients participated in PA at a similar level but lower intensities compared to the reference cohort. PA in EA patients was largely independent of medical factors

Sex-specific percentiles for bodyweight and height in children born with esophageal atresia: a registry-based analysis 2001–2021

Abstract Background Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare malformation with a wide range of co-morbidity and associated malformations impairing weight gain and growth. The aim of this study was to calculate specific percentiles for body weight and height for children born with esophageal atresia according to sex from birth to the age of 6 years, accounting for prematurity and presence of congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods Data was extracted from an anonymized voluntary national registry for patients born with esophageal atresia between 2001 and 2021, from birth until the age of six years. Missing values were imputed using a multiple imputation approach. In premature infants, chronological age was corrected for gestational week until the age of one year. The impact of sex and additional congenital heart disease on weight gain and growth was analysed using quartile regression models. Results In total, 1812 examinations of 485 patients were considered and 1232 examinations of 301 patients were finally included. Most data was available for children at birth and during the first year of life. Body weight was imputed for 3.3% and height for 12.5% of examinations. The mean body weight-for-age and length-for-age at birth according to gestational age was lower in EA patients and median body weight developed along the tenth percentile compared to the general population. Median height-for-age was at the 50th percentile during the first months of life, before crossing to lower percentiles before the age of one year. CHD had an additional negative impact on growth and weight gain, especially during the first year of life. Conclusions Children with EA had a reduced bodyweight and -height compared to the general population. Therefore, specific percentile curves are helpful to evaluate growth and development. Especially during the first year of life, particular attention is necessary and complications leading to a reduced calorie intake should be treated without delay to promote timely development and growth. Cardiac co-morbidities may further compromise weight gain in these patients, implying that such patients should be under even closer surveillance