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Kaemmerer AS, Freilinger S, Andonian C, Ewert P, Havasi K, Nagdyman N, Pieper L, Nebel K, Seidel L, Neidenbach R, Nemes A. Provision of medical health care for adults with congenital heart disease associated with aortic involvement. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2021; 11:518-528. [PMID: 33968630 DOI: 10.21037/cdt-20-359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background All patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are chronically ill from their cardiac disease. Despite the increasing evidence that aortic alterations are becoming relevant, the importance of aortopathy in CHD has long been underestimated. This study was conducted to determine the health status of patients and/or the provision of health services of adults with CHD (ACHD) with manifest aortopathy or at risk thereof. Methods In a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey, the "real life"-care of ACHD was analysed, comparing patients with risk of developing aortopathy and/or manifest aortopathy. Results Of the 563 enrolled ACHD (49.6% female, mean age 35.8±12.1, 18-86 years) 56.8% (n=320) had a risk of developing aortopathy and/or manifest aortopathy. Of the 320 patients at risk, 187 (33.2% of the total number) had a proven aortopathy. Within this subgroup, the basic medical care for CHD-independent medical problems was given by primary medical care providers [family doctors/general practitioners (GP) in 89.4% (n=286), internists in 13.4% (n=43), physicians of another specialty in 2.5% (n=8)]. Almost all primary medical care providers knew about the CHD of their patients. Even for CHD-specific health problems, the basic medical care of risk patients was provided by a family doctor or GP in 56.6% (n=181) and by an internist in 18.4% (n=59). 30.0% (n=96) primarily consulted another specialist, including cardiologists. Only 32.8% of ACHD at risk had ever been referred to a CHD specialist by a GP for cardiac problems related to their CHD. In contrast, the need for advice was high for ACHD with aortopathy and related mainly to physical activity, employment and education, pregnancy, rehabilitation or health and life insurance. Only 35.5% of patients at risk indicated that their information on specific care structures for ACHD was sufficient, and a further 38.1% of patients were aware of patient organizations. Conclusions Even today, aortic involvement in ACHD is an often-overlooked condition, although considerable negative effects on morbidity and mortality exist. As aortopathy gains in importance with increasing age and complexity of CHD, almost all affected ACHD need lifelong medical advice and access to modern, scientifically based care concepts. According to the study-results, primary care providers and also patients are mostly insufficiently informed about the specialized ACHD facilities. The future goal is therefore to create a better awareness of CHD problems among both primary care physicians and the patients concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sophie Kaemmerer
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sebastian Freilinger
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Andonian
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Ewert
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kalman Havasi
- Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nicole Nagdyman
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lars Pieper
- Department of Behavioural Epidemiology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nebel
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lavinia Seidel
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rhoia Neidenbach
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Attila Nemes
- Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Kim SY, Wolfe DS, Taub CC. Cardiovascular outcomes of pregnancy in Marfan's syndrome patients: A literature review. CONGENIT HEART DIS 2017; 13:203-209. [DOI: 10.1111/chd.12546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- So Yeon Kim
- Tufts Medical Center; Boston Massachusetts, USA
- Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx New York, USA
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Epelman M, Johnson C, Hellinger JC, Darge K, Newman B. Vascular Lesions—Congenital, Acquired, and Iatrogenic: Imaging in the Neonate. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2015; 36:193-215. [DOI: 10.1053/j.sult.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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