Heart failure is a serious concern, especially for young adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Despite a rising number of hospitalizations for heart failure in this group, their unique needs are often overlooked.
Recent research from Mayo Clinic sheds light on the risks these individuals face and the importance of specialized care.
Congenital Heart Disease in Adulthood
More than 85% of children born with congenital heart disease reach adulthood, but their journey doesn’t end there. As they grow older, they become more susceptible to complications.
Shockingly, 61% of ACHD patients beyond 18 years old don’t see a cardiology specialist, highlighting the need for personalized care to manage health issues like heart failure.
Rising Heart Failure Hospitalizations
Previous studies revealed a significant increase in heart failure hospitalizations among U.S. adults with congenital heart disease from 1998 to 2011.
To better understand this trend and its impact, Dr. Luke Burchill and his team analyzed national data spanning the past decade.
Their findings are concerning. Heart failure hospitalizations among ACHD patients have more than doubled, surging from 6.6% in 2010 to 14% in 2020. Among over 26,000 hospital admissions of ACHD patients, 22% were due to heart failure.
These heart failure admissions were associated with a higher risk of death and major heart and brain complications. They also consumed more healthcare resources, including rehospitalization and post-acute care services.
The Power of Cardiology Care
However, there’s a glimmer of hope. Patients who had a cardiology clinic visit within 30 days before hospitalization had lower mortality rates at the 90-day and 1-year marks. This emphasizes the crucial role of specialized care in improving outcomes for ACHD patients.
Young Patients Face Unique Challenges
Younger ACHD patients, especially those under 45, were nearly twice as likely to be readmitted to the hospital, regardless of their specific type of congenital heart disease.
They also required more medical or supportive care after leaving the hospital, impacting their ability to return home and care for themselves.
A Call for Better Recognition and Treatment
Many ACHD patients with heart failure share stories of their heart-related symptoms not being taken seriously, leading to delayed recognition and treatment. However, there is hope.
New medications and innovative treatments can strengthen the heart, replace heart valves without invasive surgery, and restore normal heart rhythm. The focus is shifting from heart failure to heart function and improving patients’ quality of life.
Conclusion
The increasing rate of heart failure hospitalizations among young adults with congenital heart disease is a cause for concern. However, timely cardiology care can make a significant difference in their outcomes.
The goal is to provide individualized care that not only treats heart failure but also enhances heart function and overall well-being. By acknowledging and addressing the unique needs of ACHD patients, we can help them live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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