| 1. |
- Engelfriet, P, et al.
(author)
-
Adherence to guidelines in the clinical care for adults with congenital heart disease: The Euro Heart Survey on adult congenital heart disease
- 2006
-
In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1522-9645 .- 0195-668X. ; 27:6, s. 737-745
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims To investigate the role of guidelines in structuring the clinical care for adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), and to assess adherence to the guidelines in Europe. Methods and results A selected number of current guidelines were chosen pertaining to operative procedures, investigations, and the use of medication ('interventions'). The source for this analysis was the database of the Euro Heart Survey on adult CHD, which contains retrospectively collected data on 4110 patients followed-up for a median of 5.1 years. For each guideline investigated, patients were selected from the database for whom the particular guideline was relevant. The selected cases were classified according to two criteria: was there an indication for the particular intervention and did the intervention take place? In this manner, cases of 'undue treatment' and 'insufficient treatment' were identified. Adherence to guidelines was found to be good in the case of operative procedures and prophylactic drug treatment. However, regarding diagnostic procedures there had been adherence to guidelines in only slightly more than half of the cases. Conclusion Guidelines have an important role in the actual clinical care of adults with CHD. However, large outcome studies are needed to develop more precise guidelines.
|
|
| 2. |
- Engelfriet, P, et al.
(author)
-
The spectrum of adult congenital heart disease in Europe: morbidity and mortality in a 5 year follow-up period - The Euro Heart Survey on adult congenital heart disease
- 2005
-
In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1522-9645 .- 0195-668X. ; 26:21, s. 2325-2333
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims To describe clinical and demographic characteristics at baseline of a European cohort of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to assess mortality and morbidity in a 5 year follow-up period. Methods and results Data collected as part of the Euro Heart Survey on adult CHD was analysed. This entailed information transcribed from the files of 4110 patients diagnosed with one of eight congenital heart conditions ('defects'), who consecutively visited the outpatient clinics of one of the participating centres in 1998. The patients were included retrospectively and followed until the end of 2003 for a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Notwithstanding their overall relatively good functional class and low mortality over the follow-up period, a considerable proportion of the patients had a history of endocarditis, arrhythmias, or vascular events. There were major differences between the eight defects, both in morbidity and regarding specific characteristics. Outcomes were worst in cyanotic defects and in the Fontan circulation, but a considerable proportion of the other patients also suffer from cardiac symptoms. In particular, arrhythmias are common. Conclusion The spectrum of adult CHD in Europe emerging from this survey is one of a predominantly young population with substantial morbidity but relatively low mortality in a 5 year period.
|
|
