Knowledge of Life-Long Cardiac Care by Adolescents and Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease.

National management guidelines recommend that patients with moderate and complex congenital heart disease (CHD) receive life-long cardiac care (LLCC), guided in adulthood by an adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) specialist. However, the percentage of adult CHD patients who receive such care is quite low. Inadequate knowledge regarding LLCC may contribute to care interruption. We, therefore, sought to determine the knowledge of adolescents and young adults regarding LLCC. In this multi-center study, we administered a survey to patients 13-20 years of age with surgically repaired congenital heart disease. We assessed the understanding of both their need for LLCC and awareness of the type of recommended care providers. A total of 290/302 (96%) patients approached in the outpatient clinic setting (10 centers) agreed to study participation; mean age was 16.3 ± 2.3 years; patients were 62% male. While the need for LLCC was recognized by 78% of subjects, only 37% understood that an ACHD specialist in adulthood should guide this care. Only 37% of respondents stated that their current cardiology team had spoken to them about LLCC, but 90% wished to learn more. A substantial number of adolescents and young adults with moderate and complex CHD lack adequate knowledge about LLCC, but most have a desire to learn more about the type of care they will require in adulthood. Transition education/assessment ensuring successful transfer to adult-oriented care for this population should emphasize the importance of LLCC.

Adult congenital heart disease nurse coordination: Essential skills and role in optimizing team-based care a position statement from the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD).

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1992, the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD) is the leading global organization of professionals dedicated to pursuing excellence in the care of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) worldwide. Among ISACHD's objectives is to "promote a holistic team-based approach to the care of the adult with CHD that is comprehensive, patient-centered, and interdisciplinary" (http://www.isachd.org). This emphasis on team-based care reflects the fact that adults with CHD constitute a heterogeneous population with a wide spectrum of disease complexity, frequent association with other organ involvement, and varied co-morbidities and psychosocial issues. METHODS: Recognizing the vital role of the adult CHD (ACHD) nurse coordinator (ACHD-NC) in optimizing team-based care, ISACHD established a task force to elucidate and provide guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the ACHD-NC. Acknowledging that nursing roles can vary widely from region to region based on factors such as credentials, scopes of practice, regulations, and local culture and tradition, an international panel was assembled with experts from North America, Europe, East Asia, and Oceania. The writing committee was tasked with reviewing key aspects of the ACHD-NC's role in team-based ACHD care. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The resulting ISACHD position statement addresses the ACHD-NC's role and skills required in organizing, coordinating, and facilitating the care of adults with CHD, holistic assessment of the ACHD patient, patient education and counseling, and support for self-care management and self-advocacy.

Contraceptive Practices of Women With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Understanding the contraceptive practices of women with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) and providing them individualized contraception counseling may prevent adverse events and unplanned high-risk pregnancies. Given this, we sought to examine the contraceptive practices in women with CHD, describe adverse events associated with contraceptive use, and describe the provision of contraception counseling. Women >18 years were recruited from 2011 to 2014 from 9 adult CHD (ACHD) centers throughout North America. Subjects completed a 48-item questionnaire regarding contraceptive use and perceptions of contraception counseling, and a medical record review was performed. Of 505 subjects, median age was 33 (interquartile range 26 to 44) and 81% had CHD of moderate or great complexity. The majority (86%, 435 of 505) of the cohort had used contraception. The types included barrier methods (87%), oral contraception (OC) 84%, intrauterine device (18%), Depo-Provera (15%), vaginal ring (7%), patch (6%), hormonal implant (2%), Plan B (19%), and sterilization (16%). Overall OC use was not significantly different by CHD complexity. Women with CHD of great complexity were more likely to report a thrombotic event while taking OC than those with less complex CHD (9% vs 1%, p = 0.003). Contraception counseling by the ACHD team was noted by 43% of subjects. Unplanned pregnancy was reported by 25% with no statistical difference by CHD complexity. In conclusion, contraceptive practices of women with complex CHD are highly variable, and the prevalence of blood clots while taking OC is not insignificant while provision of contraception counseling by ACHD providers appears lacking.