The adult with congenital heart disease.
There are approximately 800,000 adult survivors of congenital heart disease in the U.S., and this number continues to increase on an annual basis. It was only 50 years ago that the first intracardiac repair of a congenital heart defect was performed. Survival into adulthood has only been realistic in the last three decades. This has created a new patient population with a number of challenges such as the impact of adult onset diseases on their underlying cardiac pathology, cognitive, physical, and psychosocial development, as well as issues related to reproduction, employment and health insurance. Possibly the most significant obstacle is identifying healthcare professionals who can provide long-term care. This manuscript reviews the challenges and recommendations for the care of these patients.
Rhodes
Larry A
LA
Div. of Pediatric Cardiology, Dept. of Pediatrics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
Gustafson
Robert A
RA
Phillips
John P
JP
Cottrell
Lesley
L
Castillo
William
W
Siu
Benjamin L
BL
Neal
William A
WA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017741:Survivors