The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder following neonatal aortic arch repair.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a population of children who underwent neonatal heart surgery involving repair of the aortic arch for Norwood Stage I, interrupted aortic arch, and combined repair of aortic coarctation with ventricular septal defect.


METHODS
Children between the ages of 5 and 16 were surveyed using the ADHD-IV and the Child Heath Questionnaire-50. Classification as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was defined for this study as either a parent-reported diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD-IV inattention score of ⩾93 percentile.


RESULTS
Of the 134 surveys, 57 (43%) were returned completed. A total of 25 (44%) children either had a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and/or ADHD-IV inattention score ⩾93 percentile. Eleven of the 13 (85%) children with interrupted aortic arch, 3 of the 7 (42.9%) children with combined coarctation/ventricular septal defect repair, and 9 of the 33 (27.3%) children with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome were classified as having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Only 7 of the 25 (28%) children received medical treatment for this condition. Quality of life indicators in the Child Heath Questionnaire-50 Questionnaire were highly correlated with the ADHD-IV scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The risks for the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are multifactorial but are significantly increased in this post-surgical population. This study revealed a low treatment rate for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and a significant impact on the quality of life in these children.
1Medical University of South Carolina,College of Health Professions,Charleston,United States of America.
Joseph J
JJ
Sistino
2Medical University of South Carolina,College of Medicine,Charleston,United States of America.
Andrew M
AM
Atz
1Medical University of South Carolina,College of Health Professions,Charleston,United States of America.
Kit N
KN
Simpson
1Medical University of South Carolina,College of Health Professions,Charleston,United States of America.
Charles
C
Ellis
3Medical University of South Carolina,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Charleston,United States of America.
John S
JS
Ikonomidis
3Medical University of South Carolina,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Charleston,United States of America.
Scott M
SM
Bradley
D000293:Adolescent; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D058327:Norwood Procedures; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
neonatal cardiac surgery