Hypophosphataemia in infants with CHD treated with amino acid infant formula

Objective Growth among infants with CHD is poor, and is multifactorial with multiple contributing factors. Unexplained hypophosphataemia has been reported among infants and children with complex medical needs consuming amino acid infant formula as the sole source of nutrition. The aim of this audit was therefore to review the incidence of hypophosphataemia among infants with CHD.Methods The use of an electronic patient record search for amino acid infant formula, CHD, and cardiac yielded 136 infants 1 year of age (n=11) and infants with a structurally normal heart (n=31) were excluded from the study. The remaining 66 infants with CHD were given amino acid infant formula.Measurements and main results In all, 1059 serum phosphate measures were available. After the introduction of amino acid infant formula, significantly more infants with CHD had episodes of hypophosphataemia: 15% (n=10/66) before treatment versus 29% (n=19/66) after treatment (p=0.049). Mean serum phosphate levels were significantly lower in infants with CHD following consumption of amino acid infant formula (2.0±0.5 versus 1.5±0.5 mmol/L following treatment (p