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The population of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) has increased dramatically over the past few decades, with many people who are now middle-aged and some in the geriatric age range. This improved longevity is leading to increased use of the medical system for both routine and episodic care, and caregivers need to be prepared to diagnose, follow up, and treat the older adult with congenital heart disease (CHD). The predictable natural progression of CHD entities and sequelae of previous interventions must now be treated in the setting of late complications, acquired cardiac disease, multiorgan effects of lifelong processes, and the unrelenting process of aging. Despite the advances in this field, death rates in the population from 20 to >70 years of age may be twice to 7 times higher for the ACHD population than for their peers.1 This American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement will focus on the older adult (>40 years old) with CHD. It is meant to be complementary to the 2008 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/AHA guidelines for ACHD and orient the reader to the natural history, ramifications of childhood repair, and late initial diagnosis of CHD in the older adult. This population with CHD is unique and distinct from both the pediatric and young adult populations with CHD. Much of the information we provide is from scientific research combined with clinical experience from longitudinal care. We emphasize that this is the beginning of a discussion regarding this rapidly growing population, and continued research aimed at the progression of disease and complications reviewed here is necessary to advance the field of ACHD with the scientific rigor it deserves. ACHD encompass a broad range of presentations. There are people who are diagnosed for the first time in adulthood, as well as those with prior palliative repair …

OBJECTIVE: To assess parental knowledge regarding lifelong congenital cardiac care (LLCCC). BACKGROUND: National guidelines recommend that nearly 50% of adult survivors with congenital heart disease (CHD) receive LLCCC; the number of adults who receive such care seems far less. Inadequate parental knowledge of LLCCC might contribute to care interruption. METHODS: In this multicenter study, we administered a questionnaire to parents of children with moderate and complex CHD to assess knowledge of LLCCC. RESULTS: A total of 500 parents participated; the median age of their children was 10 years (range: 2–18 years). Most parents (81%) understood that their child would need LLCCC, but only 44% recognized that their child's cardiology care should be guided by an adult congenital heart specialist in adulthood. More than half (59%) of the parents stated that their current cardiology team had never spoken to them about LLCCC, but 96% wished to learn more. Variables associated with parental LLCCC knowledge included previous discussions regarding LLCCC, underlying cardiac surgical diagnosis, and level of parental education. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of parents of children with moderate and complex CHD lack knowledge about LLCCC, but almost all of them have a desire to learn more about the care their child will need as an adult.

Objectives Describe quality outcomes of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) undergoing cardiovascular procedures and admissions in a free-standing children's hospital with a multi-disciplinary ACHD program and compared with pediatric outcomes. Background A challenge for the U.S. healthcare system is where to treat the >1 million ACHD patients (pts): adult hospitals without CHD care, or pediatric hospitals without adult services. Methods We reviewed all CHD pts ≥18 yrs of age from 2002–2007. Procedural and hospital related morbidity and mortality were recorded. ANOVA and t -test compared adult with pediatric pts. Results Overall, 782 pts, mean age of 29.8±9.9yrs, encountered 1490 procedures/admissions. For 178 cardiac surgeries (72% reoperations), mortality was 1.8% and complication rate was 7.3%. There was 0% mortality for 412 cardiac catheterizations, 311 electrophysiological procedures, 401 transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE), 244 exercise tests (ETT) and 54 medical admissions. Major adverse event rate was 0.6% for cardiac catheterization and electrophysiological procedures. No adverse events occurred during TEE and ETT. Only 4 pts required transfer to an adult institution (0.25%). There was no significant difference in mortality or adverse events between pediatric and adult CHD pts, p >0.05. Conclusions The optimal setting to provide ACHD care remains a complex issue. Our study is the first to demonstrate 1) a low incidence of morbidity and mortality for ACHD pts undergoing cardiovascular procedures or admissions at a free-standing children's hospital, 2) outcomes comparable to pediatric CHD pts. Future models incorporating ACHD programs within pediatric heart centers should be considered to care for this complex population.