Introduction
The increasing worldwide number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD)
demands greater attention from health professionals. The purpose of this
report is to describe the clinical demographic profile, frequency, and
invasive treatment status of adults with CHD in a public reference hospital
in northeastern Brazil.
Methods
This is a retrospective cross-sectional study including 704 patients attended
between August 2016 and August 2020. Data were collected from virtual
database.
Results
Patients’ age varied from 17 to 81 years (mean 32±14; median 27
years); 294 (41.8%) patients were male, and 410 (58,2%) were female; 230
(32,7%) had diagnosis from age 18 and up. Cardiac complexity categories were
“simple defects” (134 [19%] patients), “moderate complexity” (503 [71.5%]),
and “great complexity” (67 [9.5%]). Atrial septal defect (ASD) was diagnosed
in 216 (30.7%) patients, ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 101 (14.3%),
tetralogy of Fallot in 93 (13.2%), and other CHD in 294 (41.8%). New York
Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes were I (401 [57%]), II (203
[28.8%]), III (76 [10.8%]), and IV (24 [3.4%]). Complications were
arrhythmias (173 [24%]) and severe pulmonary hypertension (69 [9.8%]).
Invasive treatments were corrective surgery (364 (51.6%]), reoperation (28
[4.0%]), palliation (11 [1.6%]), interventional catheterization (12 [1.7%]),
surgery plus interventional catheterization (5 [0.7%]), and preoperation (91
[12.9%]). Treatment was not required in 102 (14,5%) patients, and 91 (12.9%)
were inoperable.
Conclusion
The leading diagnosis was ASD. Frequency of unrepaired patients was high,
mainly ASD, due to late diagnosis, which favored complications and denotes a
matter of great concern.