Psychosocial Functioning and Quality of Life in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Failure

Rationale and design of a randomized controlled clinical trial of a resilience-building intervention in adults with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are at risk for lower quality of life (QOL) and psychological health. Behavioral interventions to meet their psychosocial needs are lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) intervention in ACHD and its efficacy in increasing resilience in this population.

METHODS

We designed a phase II randomized controlled clinical trial of patients with moderate or complex ACHD, physiological stages C or D. Enrolled participants will be randomized to receive PRISM or usual care. PRISM is a manualized, skills-based behavioral intervention comprised of four one-on-one sessions targeting resilience resources (stress-management, goal-setting, cognitive reframing, meaning making), an optional session on advance care planning, and a facilitated family meeting. Participants in both groups will complete study questionnaires at enrollment and 3-months later. The primary aim is to describe feasibility, namely the proportions of patients who a) enroll in the study among those eligible, and b) complete the PRISM intervention among those randomized to that arm. We will also evaluate PRISM's efficacy by using linear regression models to compare changes in mean resilience scores between assigned groups. In exploratory analyses, we will evaluate effects on QOL, psychological distress, perceived competence for health care management, and comfort with advance care planning.

DISCUSSION

This study will provide rigorous evidence to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a brief intervention to promote resilience and psychosocial health in ACHD. Findings may guide the development of a future multi-site effectiveness study.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04738474.

Key Psychosocial Health Outcomes and Association With Resilience Among Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) can negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Strengthening resilience may improve this and other psychosocial outcomes important for living a meaningful life.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe resilience and key psychosocial health outcomes in ACHD and evaluate the associations between resilience and these outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of outpatients with moderate or complex ACHD between May 2021 and June 2022. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 3 months, evaluating resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10), health-related QOL (EQ5D-3L, linear analog scale), health status (Euroqol visual analog scale), self-competence (Perceived Competence Scale), and psychological symptom burden (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and distress (Kessler-6).

RESULTS

The mean participant age (N = 138) was 41 ± 14 years, 51% were female, and 83% self-identified as non-Hispanic White. ACHD was moderate for 75%; 57% were physiologic class B. Mean baseline resilience score (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10) was 29.20 ± 7.54. Participants had relatively good health-related QOL, health status, and self-competence, and low psychological symptom burden and distress. Higher baseline resilience was associated with better values of all outcomes at 3 months (eg, 1 point higher resilience was associated with 0.92 higher linear analog scale; 95% CI: 0.52-1.32) with or without adjustment for demographics. After further adjusting for the baseline psychosocial measure, only the association between resilience and QOL measures at 3 months remained statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience is positively associated with health-related QOL for outpatients with moderate or complex ACHD, though relationships are small in magnitude. Study findings can guide the application of resilience-building interventions to the ACHD population.

Definitions of resilience and resilience resource use as described by adults with congenital heart disease

Background

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a lifelong illness that presents ongoing challenges to quality of life. Fostering personal resilience resources to sustain well-being can enhance patients' psychosocial health.

Objective

We aimed to describe patients' resilience experiences: how they understand, develop, and utilize resilience resources in managing ACHD.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study of patients with ACHD. Participants were recruited using maximum variation sampling. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted June 2020 to August 2021. We queried approaches to managing ACHD-related stress and experiences with resilience and analyzed responses with thematic analysis.

Results

Participant (N = 25) median age was 32 years (range 22-44); 52% identified as female and 72% non-Hispanic white. Participants' anatomic ACHD was moderate (56%) or complex (44%); physiologically, 76% were functional class C or D. Participants described various resilience resources, which map to an established resilience framework: 1) internal resources: maintaining positivity, self-directed activity, and setting goals; 2) external resources: social support; 3) existential resources: purpose, gratitude, and cultivating health. Even among participants who reported feeling unfamiliar (8/25) with the term "resilience," all participants shared experiences reflecting resilience developed while living with ACHD.

Conclusion

ACHD-relevant resilience resources may help patients and clinicians navigate ACHD-related stress and promote psychosocial well-being.

Daily life and psychosocial functioning of adults with congenital heart disease: a 40-53 years after surgery follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, more than 90% of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adulthood. However, knowledge about their psychosocial functioning is limited.

METHODS

Longitudinal cohort study of patients (n = 204, mean age: 50 years, 46.1% female) who were operated during childhood (< 15 years) between 1968 and 1980 for one of the following diagnoses: atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries. Psychosocial functioning was measured every 10 years, using standardized and validated questionnaires. Results were compared with the general Dutch population and over time.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 45 [40-53] years adults with CHD had a significantly lower educational level, occupation level and employment rate, but better health-related quality of life and emotional functioning compared with normative data. Patients with moderate/severe defects reported significantly more self-perceived physical restrictions and lack of physical strength due to their CHD. Compared to 2011, in 2021 patients considered their CHD as more severe and they felt more often disadvantaged.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, despite a lower education, occupation level and employment rate, our sample of patients with CHD had a positive perception of their life and  their psychosocial functioning was even better than the norm. Although the quality of life was very good, their view on their disease was more pessimistic than 10 years ago, especially for patients with moderate/severe CHD.

LACE Index to Predict the High Risk of 30-Day Readmission in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction at a University Affiliated Hospital

Background

The LACE index (length of stay, acuity of admission, comorbidity index, and emergency room visit in the past 6 months) has been used to predict the risk of 30-day readmission after hospital discharge in both medical and surgical patients. This study aimed to utilize the LACE index to predict the risk of 30-day readmission in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infraction (AMI).

Methods

This was a retrospective study. Data were extracted from the hospital's electronic medical records of patients admitted with AMI between 2015 and 2019. LACE index was built on admission patient demographic data, and clinical and laboratory findings during the index of admission. The multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the association and the risk prediction ability of the LACE index, and 30-day readmission were analyzed by receiver operator characteristic curves with C-statistic.

Results

Of the 3,607 patients included in the study, 5.7% (205) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. The adjusted odds ratio based on logistic regression of all baseline variables showed a statistically significant association with the LACE score and revealed an increased risk of readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge. However, patients with high LACE scores (≥10) had a significantly higher rate of emergency revisits within 30 days from the index discharge than those with low LACE scores. Despite this, analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the LACE index had favorable discrimination ability C-statistic 0.78 (95%CI; 0.75–0.81). The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness- of-fit test P value was p = 0.920, indicating that the model was well-calibrated to predict risk of the 30-day readmission.

Conclusion

The LACE index demonstrated the good discrimination power to predict the risk of 30-day readmissions for hospitalized patients with AMI. These results can help clinicians to predict the risk of 30-day readmission at the early stage of hospitalization and pay attention during the care of high-risk patients. Future work is to be focused on additional factors to predict the risk of 30-day readmissions; they should be considered to improve the model performance of the LACE index with other acute conditions by using administrative data.

COVID-19 impact on adults with congenital heart disease self-perceived vulnerability and coping

The COVID-19 pandemic poses risk for worsened quality of life in patients with adult congenital heart disease. In a qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted July 2020 to August 2021, we examined the pandemic's impact on participants' (N = 25) experiences with self-perception and coping. All had moderate or complex disease; median age 32 years. The pandemic altered some participants' self-perception, including increased vulnerability beyond heart-attributed risk. Restrictions frequently prevented participants from using their usual coping strategies, forcing use of alternative methods. For an already at-risk population, these findings suggest the need for increased mental health awareness, assessment, and support.

Quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes across the lifespan among people with Fontan palliation

Traditional congenital heart disease (CHD) outcomes include mortality (survival to adulthood and life expectancy) as well as cardiac and non-cardiac morbidity. Strategies to identify and manage sequelae have primarily focused on objective data obtained though invasive and non-invasive diagnostic approaches. In contrast, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide subjective information, using standardized measures, about patients' health and wellbeing as reported directly by patients, without interpretation, interference, or assumptions made by clinicians or others. Selection of PRO measures entails thoughtful consideration of who the individuals being surveyed are, why assessment is occurring (e.g., what are the domains of interest; clinical vs. research), and what processes are in place for acquisition, administration, interpretation, and response. In this review, we focus on three domains of PROs for pediatric and adult patients with Fontan physiology: physical health status, psychological functioning, and quality of life (QOL). Infants, children, adolescents, and adults with CHD face a spectrum of challenges that may influence PROs across the lifespan. In general, patients with Fontan palliation tend to have lower physical health status, experience more psychological distress, and have equivalent or reduced QOL compared to healthy peers. Herein, we provide an overview of PROs among people with Fontan circulation as a group, yet simultaneously emphasize that the optimal way to understand the experiences of any individual patient is to ask and listen. We also offer clinical and research initiatives to improve the adoption and utility of PROs in CHD settings, which demonstrate commitment to capturing, understanding, and responding to the patient voice.

Considerations in Critical Care and Anesthetic Management of Adult Patients Living with Fontan Circulation

The Fontan procedure is a staged palliation for various complex congenital cardiac lesions, including tricuspid atresia (TA), pulmonary atresia (PA), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), and double inlet left ventricle (DILV), all of which involve a functional single-ventricle physiology. The complexity of the patients' original anatomy combined with the anatomical and physiological consequences of the Fontan circulation creates challenges. Teens and adults living with Fontan palliation will need perioperative support for non-cardiac surgery, peripartum management for labor and delivery, interventions related to their structural heart disease, electrophysiology procedures, pacemakers, cardioversions, cardiac surgery, transplant, and advanced mechanical support. This review focuses on the anesthetic and ICU management of these patients during their perioperative journey, with an emphasis on the continuity of pre-intervention planning, referral pathways, and post-intervention intensive care unit (ICU) management. Requests for recipes and doses of medications are frequent; however, as in normal anesthesia and ICU practice, the method of anesthesia and dosing are dependent on the presenting medical/surgical conditions and the underlying anatomy and physiological reserve. A patient with Fontan palliation in their early 20s attending school full-time with a cavopulmonary connection is likely to have more reserve than a patient in their late 40s with an atrio- pulmonary (AP) Fontan at home waiting for a heart transplant. Each case will require an anesthetic and critical care plan tailored to their situation. The critical care environment is a natural extension of the anesthetic management of a patient, with complex considerations for a patient with Fontan palliation.

Atrial arrhythmias and patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease: An international study

BACKGROUND

Atrial arrhythmias (ie, intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia and atrial fibrillation) are a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Little is known about their effect on quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in adults with CHD.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of atrial arrhythmias on PROs in adults with CHD and explore geographic variations.

METHODS

Associations between atrial arrhythmias and PROs were assessed in a cross-sectional study of adults with CHD from 15 countries spanning 5 continents. A propensity-based matching weight analysis was performed to compare quality of life, perceived health status, psychological distress, sense of coherence, and illness perception in patients with and those without atrial arrhythmias.

RESULTS

A total of 4028 adults with CHD were enrolled, 707 (17.6%) of whom had atrial arrhythmias. After applying matching weights, patients with and those without atrial arrhythmias were comparable with regard to age (mean 40.1 vs 40.2 years), demographic variables (52.5% vs 52.2% women), and complexity of CHD (15.9% simple, 44.8% moderate, and 39.2% complex in both groups). Patients with atrial arrhythmias had significantly worse PRO scores with respect to quality of life, perceived health status, psychological distress (ie, depression), and illness perception. A summary score that combines all PRO measures was significantly lower in patients with atrial arrhythmias (-3.3%; P = .0006). Differences in PROs were consistent across geographic regions.

CONCLUSION

Atrial arrhythmias in adults with CHD are associated with an adverse impact on a broad range of PROs consistently across various geographic regions.

Psychological Needs, Assessment, and Treatment in the Care of Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Although the majority of congenital heart disease survivors are thriving, many are at risk for declining emotional well-being as they age. Emotional distress is a risk factor for poorer health outcomes and must be addressed. Primary care and cardiology teams may be the first line of defense in identifying and providing referral resources for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and medical trauma. The current review provides information about commonly used self-report measures of emotional distress to identify symptoms that warrant referral and describes multiple options for addressing these symptoms.

Congenital heart diseases: genetics, non-inherited risk factors, and signaling pathways

Background

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common congenital anomalies with an estimated prevalence of 8 in 1000 live births. CHDs occur as a result of abnormal embryogenesis of the heart. Congenital heart diseases are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The damage of the heart is irreversible due to a lack of regeneration potential, and usually, the patients may require surgical intervention. Studying the developmental biology of the heart is essential not only in understanding the mechanisms and pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases but also in providing us with insight towards developing new preventive and treatment methods.

Main body

The etiology of congenital heart diseases is still elusive. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of the diseases. Recently, cardiac transcription factors, cardiac-specific genes, and signaling pathways, which are responsible for early cardiac morphogenesis have been extensively studied in both human and animal experiments but leave much to be desired. The discovery of novel genetic methods such as next generation sequencing and chromosomal microarrays have led to further study the genes, non-coding RNAs and subtle chromosomal changes, elucidating their implications to the etiology of congenital heart diseases. Studies have also implicated non-hereditary risk factors such as rubella infection, teratogens, maternal age, diabetes mellitus, and abnormal hemodynamics in causing CHDs.

These etiological factors raise questions on multifactorial etiology of CHDs. It is therefore important to endeavor in research based on finding the causes of CHDs. Finding causative factors will enable us to plan intervention strategies and mitigate the consequences associated with CHDs. This review, therefore, puts forward the genetic and non-genetic causes of congenital heart diseases. Besides, it discusses crucial signaling pathways which are involved in early cardiac morphogenesis. Consequently, we aim to consolidate our knowledge on multifactorial causes of CHDs so as to pave a way for further research regarding CHDs.

Conclusion

The multifactorial etiology of congenital heart diseases gives us a challenge to explicitly establishing specific causative factors and therefore plan intervention strategies. More well-designed studies and the use of novel genetic technologies could be the way through the discovery of etiological factors implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases.

Health-related quality of life and readmission of patients with cardiovascular disease in South Korea

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with cardiovascular disease and its relationship to hospital readmission.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study used data from 1037 adults aged ⩾19 years diagnosed with myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. Raw data were obtained from the fourth to sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2014).

RESULTS

Readmission was found to be associated with age, living status, education level, unemployment, individual income level, stroke, osteoarthritis, diabetes, depression, low stress level, walking days per week, and activity limitations due to cardiovascular disease.

CONCLUSION

In summary, readmission was related to HRQOL among patients with myocardial infarction. Interventions that consider efforts to reduce readmission through improved diagnosis and development of systematic management of cardiovascular disease symptoms are required.

Factors Associated With Increased Exercise in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Despite the known benefits of regular exercise, the majority of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) fail to meet recommended standards for physical activity. We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with exercise frequency in adults with CHD, which remain largely unknown. From September 2015 to December 2016, 446 adults with CHD completed clinical questionnaires regarding exercise frequency. Questionnaires also measured related demographic and psychosocial variables. Retrospective chart review was utilized to determine cardiac function and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Exercise frequency was classified as none (33%), low (<3×/month, 2%), occasional (<2×/week, 8%), or frequent (≥2×/week, 57%). Frequent exercisers were more highly educated (odds ratio [OR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 2.57), reported improved sleep quality, with decreased nocturnal awakenings and sleep latency (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.83), and had a lower prevalence of depression (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.75). There was no significant association between exercise frequency and disease complexity or cardiac function. Of the original cohort, 74 patients completed exercise testing within 1 year of their visit. Frequent exercisers (n = 46) had better indicators of cardiovascular capacity, including higher peak maximal oxygen consumption [VO₂] (28.8 ± 8.5 vs 24.6 ± 8.4, p = 0.04). After controlling for exercise frequency, higher educational attainment independently predicted an improved exercise capacity (peak [VO₂]: OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.18). In conclusion, frequent exercise in adults with CHD is associated with improved cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and psychosocial functioning, irrespective of underlying cardiac disease complexity and severity. Increased physical activity levels and improved exercise capacity were observed in more highly educated patients, highlighting the potential importance of socioeconomic influences on physical and mental functioning.

CHIP-Family intervention to improve the psychosocial well-being of young children with congenital heart disease and their families: results of a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Children with congenital heart disease and their families are at risk of psychosocial problems. Emotional and behavioural problems, impaired school functioning, and reduced exercise capacity often occur. To prevent and decrease these problems, we modified and extended the previously established Congenital Heart Disease Intervention Program (CHIP)-School, thereby creating CHIP-Family. CHIP-Family is the first psychosocial intervention with a module for children with congenital heart disease. Through a randomised controlled trial, we examined the effectiveness of CHIP-Family.

METHODS

Ninety-three children with congenital heart disease (age M = 5.34 years, SD = 1.27) were randomised to CHIP-Family (n = 49) or care as usual (no psychosocial care; n = 44). CHIP-Family consisted of a 1-day group workshop for parents, children, and siblings and an individual follow-up session for parents. CHIP-Family was delivered by psychologists, paediatric cardiologists, and physiotherapists. At baseline and 6-month follow-up, mothers, fathers, teachers, and the child completed questionnaires to assess psychosocial problems, school functioning, and sports enjoyment. Moreover, at 6-month follow-up, parents completed program satisfaction assessments.

RESULTS

Although small improvements in child outcomes were observed in the CHIP-Family group, no statistically significant differences were found between outcomes of the CHIP-Family and care-as-usual group. Mean parent satisfaction ratings ranged from 7.4 to 8.1 (range 0-10).

CONCLUSIONS

CHIP-Family yielded high program acceptability ratings. However, compared to care as usual, CHIP-Family did not find the same extent of statistically significant outcomes as CHIP-School. Replication of promising psychological interventions, and examination of when different outcomes are found, is recommended for refining interventions in the future.

TRIAL REGISTRY

Dutch Trial Registry number NTR6063, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5780.

Cardiac Denial and Expectations Associated With Depression in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Depression in adults with congenital heart disease is highly prevalent and strongly associated with adverse prognosis. Better management of risk factors for depression may improve clinical outcomes in this population. We conducted a single-site, cross-sectional study of 78 adults with congenital heart disease followed at Washington University School of Medicine. Data considered in the analyses included retrospectively obtained clinical information and patients' self-assessed psychosocial functioning and health status. To identify the clinical and psychosocial variables associated with depression, we built a stepwise multivariate model to measure the relative contribution of these variables to depression status. The prevalence of depression in our sample was 26%. Our model accounted for approximately 67% of the variability in depression scores. The final model consisted of the Cardiac Denial of Impact Scale, expectations domain of Barriers to Care, and the energy and social domains of the Rand 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Clinical variables did not predict variability in depression scores. In conclusion, greater cardiac denial and negative expectations of the healthcare team were associated with increased depression symptoms in ACHD.

The long-term functional outcome in Mustard patients study: Another decade of follow-up

OBJECTIVE

For over 20 years, we have followed a cohort of patients who underwent the Mustard procedure for d-transposition of the great arteries. The current study follows the same cohort from our last study in 2007 to reassess their functional capacity and quality of life.

PARTICIPANTS

Of the original 45 patients, six patients have required cardiac transplant and 10 patients have died, including two of the transplanted patients. Twenty-five of the remaining patients agreed to participate in this current study.

DESIGN

Patients underwent comparable testing to the previous studies when possible including exercise stress testing, echocardiography, MRI or CT evaluation of cardiac anatomy and function, Holter monitor, and quality of life questionnaire.

RESULTS

Thirty-one percent of patients have experienced cardiac death either in the form of mortality or cardiac transplantation. The major cause of death was systemic right ventricular failure. Sixty-five percent have continuing abnormalities of rhythm. Exercise time and workload showed a statistically significant decrease from the original study (Time 1) to both 10-year (Time 2) and 20-year (Time 3) follow-up points. Right ventricular ejection fraction decreased significantly from the Time 1 to Time 2, and again to this current follow-up. Quality of life measures of energy level decreased significantly from the original study to both the Time 2 and Time 3.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac mortality for Mustard patients remains high, and over time, systemic right ventricular ejection fraction, rhythm, exercise tolerance, and quality of life assessments show deterioration. There does not appear to be a single clear predictor of poor outcome.

Development and persistence of depressive symptoms in adolescents with CHD

Patients with CHD are vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. The present study compared baseline depressive symptoms between adolescents with CHD and community adolescents, and also assessed the development and persistence of depressive symptoms in patients. We examined the implications of persistent depressive symptoms towards quality of life and patient-reported health. In total, 296 adolescents with CHD participated in a four-wave longitudinal study, with 9-month intervals, and completed measures of depressive symptoms - Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) - at time points one to four and of quality of life - linear analogue scale (LAS) - and patient-reported health - LAS and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - at T (time) 4. Information about diagnosis, disease complexity, and previous heart surgery was collected from medical records. At T1, 278 patients were matched 1:1 with community adolescents, based on sex and age. The findings of this study indicate that patients scored significantly lower on depressive symptoms compared with community adolescents. Depressive symptoms in the total patient sample were stable over time and were unrelated to disease complexity. Based on conventional cut-off scores of the CES-D, substantial individual differences existed in the extent to which depressive symptoms persisted over time: 12.2% of the patients reported elevated depressive symptoms at minimally three out of the four time points. Especially physical functioning, cardiac symptoms, and patient-reported health at T4 were predicted by persistent depressive symptoms, even when controlling for the level of depressive symptoms at T4. Our findings indicate that those involved in the care of adolescents with CHD should remain vigilant to persistent depressive symptoms and arrange timely referral to mental healthcare services.

Integrative Medical Care Plus Mindfulness Training for Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. It is often accompanied by other medical and psychosocial comorbidities that complicate treatment and adherence. We conducted a proof of concept pilot project to determine the feasibility of providing integrative group medical visits plus mindfulness training for patients recently discharged with CHF. Patients were eligible if they had been discharged from an inpatient stay for CHF within the 12 months prior to the new program. The Compassionate Approach to Lifestyle and Mind–Body (CALM) Skills for Patients with CHF consisted of 8 weekly visits focusing on patient education about medications, diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management; group support; and training in mind–body skills such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and loving-kindness. Over two 8-week sessions, 8/11 (73%) patients completed at least 4 visits. The patients had an average age of 57 years. The most common comorbidities were weight gain, sleep problems, and fatigue. After the sessions, 100% of patients planned to make changes to their diet, exercise, and stress management practices. Over half of the patients who met with a pharmacist had a medication-related problem. Improvements were observed in depression, fatigue, and satisfaction with life. Integrative group visits focusing on healthy lifestyle, support, and skill-building are feasible even among CHF patients and should be evaluated in controlled trials as a patient-centered approach to improving outcomes related to improving medication management, depression, fatigue, and quality of life.

Limitations, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among a population-based sample of young adults with congenital heart defects

BACKGROUND

Little population-based data exist on limitations and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with congenital heart defects (CHD).

METHODS

We used 2004 to 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to identify a population-based sample of young adults ages 18 to 40 years reporting health symptoms or healthcare encounters in the previous year. Comparing adults reporting CHD to others, we examined the prevalence of cognitive, physical, and activity limitations, depressive symptoms, and physical and mental HRQoL. We used chi square tests to examine differences in demographic characteristics, logistic regression to generate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), and linear regression to examine HRQoL. Multivariable associations were adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. All analyses were conducted in SUDAAN using weights to account for clustering within sampling units and nonresponse.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine adults reported CHD (weighted prevalence = 0.1%; representing 700,000 U.S. adults from 2004 to 2012 or, on average, 80,000 per year) and 54,011 did not. No demographic characteristics differed significantly by CHD status except health insurance; 31.5% of adults with CHD, compared with 11.0% without, reported public insurance (p = 0.01). Compared with their counterparts, adults reporting CHD had a higher prevalence of cognitive (aPR = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 7.2), physical (aPR = 4.0, 95% CI: 1.9, 8.2), and activity limitations (aPR = 4.8, 95% CI: 2.6, 9.1), and poorer physical HRQoL (p = 0.004). No differences were observed in depressive symptoms and mental HRQoL by CHD status.

CONCLUSION

Physical health and cognitive abilities of adults with CHD were compromised compared with adults without CHD. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:580-586, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Extra-cardiac manifestations of adult congenital heart disease

Advancement in correction or palliation of congenital cardiac lesions has greatly improved the lifespan of congenital heart disease patients, resulting in a rapidly growing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population. As this group has increased in number and age, emerging science has highlighted the systemic nature of ACHD. Providers caring for these patients are tasked with long-term management of multiple neurologic, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and endocrine manifestations that arise as syndromic associations with congenital heart defects or as sequelae of primary structural or hemodynamic abnormalities. In this review, we outline the current understanding and recent research into these extra-cardiac manifestations.

Medical factors that predict quality of life for young adults with congenital heart disease: What matters most?

BACKGROUND

Identify demographic and medical status indicators that account for variability in physical and emotional health-related quality of life (QoL) among young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) as compared to traditional lesion severity categories.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 218 young adult survivors of CHD (mean=25.7, SD=7.1 years). Participants were recruited from pediatric and adult CHD clinics at a pediatric and an adult hospital. Stepwise linear regression examined the unique contribution of demographic (age; sex; estimated income) and medical status indicators (comorbid conditions; treatment modality; ventricular function/functional capacity) on QoL compared to traditional lesion severity categories (simple; moderate; complex).

RESULTS

Lesion severity category accounted for a small portion of the variance in physical QoL (3%), but was not associated with emotional QoL. Lesion severity did not significantly contribute to the variability in physical QoL once other variables were entered. Having an estimated income of ≤$30,000, taking more than one cardiac-related medication, and having a New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class designation>I was associated with poorer physical QoL and explained 23% of the variability. NYHA class was the only variable that explained a unique proportion of variance (7%) in emotional QoL, and having a NYHA class designation>I was associated with greater risk for poorer emotional functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggested that several indicators readily available to treatment teams may provide important information about the risk for poor patient-reported outcomes of physical and emotional QoL among CHD survivors.

Depression requiring anti-depressant drug therapy in adult congenital heart disease: prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic value

BACKGROUND

Depression is prevalent in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), but limited data on the frequency of anti-depressant drug (ADD) therapy and its impact on outcome are available.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified all ACHD patients treated with ADDs between 2000 and 2011 at our centre. Of 6162 patients under follow-up, 204 (3.3%) patients were on ADD therapy. The majority of patients were treated with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (67.4%), while only 17.0% of patients received tricyclic anti-depressants. Twice as many female patients used ADDs compared with males (4.4 vs. 2.2%, P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients on ADDs increased with disease complexity (P < 0.0001) and patient age (P < 0.0001). Over a median follow-up of 11.1 years, 507 (8.2%) patients died. After propensity score matching, ADD use was found to be significantly associated with worse outcome in male ACHD patients [hazard ratio 1.44 (95% confidence interval 1.17-1.84)]. There was no evidence that this excess mortality was directly related to ADD therapy, QT-prolongation, or malignant arrhythmias. However, males taking ADDs were also more likely to miss scheduled follow-up appointments compared with untreated counterparts, while no such difference in clinic attendance was seen in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ADD therapy in ACHD relates to gender, age, and disease complexity. Although, twice as many female patients were on ADDs, it were their male counterparts, who were at increased mortality risk on therapy. Furthermore, males on ADDs had worse adherence to scheduled appointments suggesting the need for special medical attention and possibly psychosocial intervention for this group of patients.

The Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Support on Patients Receiving Multi-drug Therapy for Coronary Heart Disease in China

The study determined pharmacist support on patients receiving multi-drug therapy for coronary heart disease by evaluating patient self-care ability, quality of life, and drug therapy compliance. In this study, ninety patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=45) and a control group (n=45). The control group received conventional clinical care. The experimental group received clinical care plus pharmacist support that included medication review, patient education, lifestyle management, discharge guidance, and telephone follow-up. Eighty-five patients completed the study. Self-care ability and quality of life were evaluated before hospital discharge. The experimental group understood their condition better than the control group (P<0.05), the differences between the groups in understanding treatment goals, drug regimens, lifestyle modifications, psychogenic disorders, and satisfaction evaluations were more pronounced (P<0.01). At six-month follow-up, the difference between the groups in drug therapy compliance was P<0.01, as was success rate by intention-to-treat (77.8% vs. 48.9%) and per-protocol (81.4% vs. 52.4%). Two adverse drug reactions occurred in the experimental group and three in the control group. Pharmacist support improved self-care ability, quality of life, drug therapy compliance, and treatment success rate in coronary heart disease patients.

Advances in the Care of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

The significant decline in mortality among children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with an increasing prevalence of CHD in adults, particularly those with moderate to severe defects. As a significant percentage of adolescents and young adults are lost to follow-up in the transition from pediatric to adult care, they may present for elective procedures with substantial CHD-associated morbidity. In addition to the specific cardiac defect, the procedures performed, and the current pathophysiological status, several factors should be considered when managing the adult with CHD. These include the type of setting (adult vs pediatric institution); surgeon (pediatric vs adult cardiac surgeon); coexisting diseases associated with CHD, such as coronary artery disease, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular accidents, myopathy, and coagulation disorders; acquired diseases of aging; pregnancy; and psychosocial functioning. The current status of the management of common and important congenital cardiac defects is also described.

Update on the challenges facing the adult with congenital heart disease community: for both the patient and provider

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The success in the management of congenital heart disease has resulted in a growing population now expected to reach adulthood. The declining mortality during childhood results in adults with decades of cardiovascular disease burden. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on some of the common issues encountered when caring for the adult with congenital heart disease through a review of recently published articles.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review focuses on addressing the lack of information, gaps in clinical care, single ventricle complications, and heart failure in the adults with congenital heart disease population.

SUMMARY

The advancing age of the congenital heart population comes with a substantial life cardiovascular risk. Despite this, they typically experience and report a good quality of life. Providing care to adults with congenital heart disease requires a comprehensive team to address the many complications that are known to arise. This comprehensive team should be available to all.

Psychosocial adjustment and quality of life of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease

The incidence of people living with congenital heart disease (CHD) has been increasing every year owing to remarkable advances in surgical and catheter intervention techniques and devices, and improved knowledge of critical care for patients with CHD. However, these patients continue to face physical, psychosocial, and environmental challenges, and a number of studies have shown higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders than the general population. To improve psychosocial functioning and quality of life for adults with CHD, health care providers are recommended to inform CHD patients of an accurate diagnosis, and overall treatment process, beginning in adolescence to facilitate a smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood. Active cooperation with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and family members is highly recommended to help CHD patients feel normal and optimistic and to promote good social interactions, close family relationships, and a strong sense of coherence.