title: Caring for a teen with congenital heart disease.
abstract: Adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) are a rapidly growing population with complex medical needs and psychosocial challenges. Identity formation is an important developmental task accomplished during the teenage years. This article reviews different aspects of ongoing care that pertain to teenagers with CHD, with a particular focus on primary care issues and a summary of recommendations from various scientific societies. A successful smooth transition to the adult health care setting should achieve 2 important goals: to prevent loss of follow-up and to foster and encourage self-care behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Beaubien Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48201-2119, USA. Electronic address: pgupta2@dmc.org.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Congenital heart disease; Primary care provider; Psychosocial; Transition