title: From adolescents to adults with congenital heart disease: the role of transition.
abstract: Improved surgical care during the last decades, together with advances in medical management, led to a remarkable increase in survival of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, aging of the CHD population brings new challenges, and loss of follow-up of adolescents and adults with CHD is a major concern. It is crucial to optimize the transfer of patients with CHD from paediatric to adult health care services to prevent loss to follow-up. The transition process plays a central role in the future health and follow-up of the patient. The aim of this review is to explain and discuss the clinical impact of the transition process in adolescents with CHD. We will also discuss specific CHD adolescents' problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescence is a crucial phase for the formation of the personality. Understanding and acceptance of the responsibility for health at this stage through a transition process with a multidisciplinary team will determine the quality of future medical follow-up and probably limit psychosocial issues in their adult life.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  • Aging of the congenital heart disease population brings new challenges to the organisation of care. • Loss of follow-up is a major concern for patients with congenital heart disease. What is new: • The quality of a formal transition process during adolescence will determine future outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Pasteur University Hospital, Nice, France, moceri.p@chu-nice.fr.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moceri
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hascoet
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Checler
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraisse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005195:Family Relations; D015438:Health Behavior; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012648:Self Care; D060305:Transition to Adult Care