biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Abbas QDespite the significant advancement in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery over the years, the mortality and morbidity rate in children undergoing CHD surgery is substantial, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Evidence shows that malnutrition contributes to morbidity and mortality in these children, with a negative impact on their surgical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative outcomes among patients with CHD. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000, to Mar 1, 2024. Twenty-one studies were included in the review with 22,621 malnourished and 60,402 well-nourished children undergoing CHD surgery. Malnourished children Scientific reports25738https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12267774biostudies-literaturePreoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PMC12267774Ali HIlyas AKhan ILadak SBhatti OAAbbas QAhuja AKMohsin SShah IRehman ALadak LAfalsePreoperative nutrition status in children with congenital heart disease and its impact on postoperative outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Despite the significant advancement in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery over the years, the mortality and morbidity rate in children undergoing CHD surgery is substantial, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Evidence shows that malnutrition contributes to morbidity and mortality in these children, with a negative impact on their surgical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative outcomes among patients with CHD. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000, to Mar 1, 2024. Twenty-one studies were included in the review with 22,621 malnourished and 60,402 well-nourished children undergoing CHD surgery. Malnourished children 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-03-16T00:33:15.517Z2025-08-15T03:06:25.992ZS-EPMC122677744067072210.1038/s41598-025-96374-z