The emerging burden of hospital admissions of adults with congenital heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent and the characteristics of hospital admissions in registered adult patients with congenital heart disease.


METHODS
Observational cohort study.


METHODS
The Netherlands.


METHODS
5798 adult patients with congenital heart disease from the Dutch CONCOR national registry linked to the Dutch National Medical Registration (Prismant).


METHODS
All hospital admissions from the years 2001 up until 2006.


RESULTS
During 28 990 patient-years, 2908 patients (50%) were admitted to hospital. Median age at admission was 39 years (range 18-86 years); 46% were male. Admission rate in CONCOR patients was high among all ages (range 11-68%) and exceeded that of the general Dutch population two to three times; this difference was most pronounced in the older age groups. Altogether there were 8916 admissions, 5411 (61%) of which were for cardiovascular indications. Among cardiovascular admissions, referrals for arrhythmias were most common (31%). Of 4926 interventions, 2459 (50%) were cardiovascular, most often reparative interventions or cardioversion (53%). Most non-cardiovascular admissions were obstetric. Among defects, univentricular heart and tricuspid atresia had the highest incidence and duration of admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare utilisation in registered and medically supervised adult patients with congenital heart disease is high and increases with age. Admission rates are at least two times higher than in the general population, and most marked in the older age groups. With the ageing of this population, a major increase in healthcare utilisation is imminent in the near future. Timely preparation of healthcare resources is crucial to sustain optimal care.
Verheugt
Carianne L
CL
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Uiterwaal
Cuno S P M
CS
van der Velde
Enno T
ET
Meijboom
Folkert J
FJ
Pieper
Petronella G
PG
Sieswerda
Gertjan Tj
GT
Plokker
Herbert W M
HW
Grobbee
Diederick E
DE
Mulder
Barbara J M
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult