COVID-19 Vaccine Priority Access for Adults and Children with Congenital Heart Disease: A Statement of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology

COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike across the world with increasing number of infected patients, severe morbidity and mortality, social life and economy disruption. Universal access to vaccine prophylaxis will be pivotal in controlling this infection and providing individual level protection. However, mismatch between vaccine request and vaccine availability, as well as constraints in logistics of vaccine campaign is creating a transition phase of progressive but still incomplete inclusion of group of individuals in the vaccination process. Selected patients living with chronic and multisystemic disease may present increased propensity of adverse outcome, should Sars-Cov-2 infection develop. In these patients, expedite access to COVID-19 vaccination may be considered. The Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology National Board is providing a viewpoint to inform policy makers and public authorities during vaccine allocation strategies development, to consider higher priority and expedite access for selected groups of patients living with congenital heart disease.     

Emotions,Perceptions and Health Behaviors of Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients during COVID-19 in New York City

Background: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) have increased prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders. There are limited data regarding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and health behaviors of these patients. Objective: The purpose is to evaluate the perceptions, emotions, and health behaviors of ACHD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of ACHD patients, we administered surveys evaluating self-reported emotions, perceptions and health behaviors. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the adjusted odds of displaying each perception, emotion and health behavior based on predictor variables. Results: Ninety-seven patients (mean age 38.3 years, 46.4% female, 85.6% moderate or complex lesion) completed the survey. The majority of patients reported feeling moderately or very sad (63.1%), and 48.4% of patients identified themselves as feeling moderately or very anxious. The majority of patients perceived their risk of COVID-19 as moderate or high. Females were more likely to report feeling sad and anxious (95% CI 1.06–10.96, p-value 0.039, and 95% CI 1.44–15.30, p-value = 0.012, respectively), and were associated with higher odds of having a perceived increased risk of COVID-19 (95% CI 1.33–10.59, p-value 0.012). There was no association between ACHD anatomic or physiologic classification and perceptions, emotions and health behaviors. Conclusions: Females were more likely to report feeling sad, anxious and an increased risk of COVID-19 in comparison to males. These findings indicate the need for mental health support and promotion of health behaviors during the pandemic amongst all ACHD patients, regardless of underlying condition.     

成人先天性心脏病肺动脉高压的新认识

成人先天性心脏病患者表现为一个正在扩大的并需要终身接受3级护理的群体。一些成人先心病的患者最后发展为不同程度的肺动脉高压,影响患者的生存质量,发病率和病死率。然而近期对肺动脉高压病理生理学理解的提高和靶向治疗的出现使人们在成人先天性心脏病肺动脉高压患者病因学、临床表现、预后和治疗策略方面有了新的认识。     

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Related Concerns,Quality of Life and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Background: The risk for a severe disease course in case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in young adults with congenital heart disease is largely unknown, potentially leading to uncertainty and anxiety among affected patients. This study aims to investigate health-related concerns, health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment in patients with congenital heart disease compared to healthy peers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: One-hundred patients with congenital heart disease and 50 controls (M = 29.7, SD = 3.8 years) were recruited. They completed an online survey including the assessment of health-related concerns regarding COVID-19, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results: Patients considered COVID-19 to be a more serious issue (Generalized odds ratio [GenOR] = 1.67, p = 0.04), were more concerned about becoming infected (GenOR = 2.93, p < 0.001) and expressed more fear about leaving their homes (GenOR = 1.81, p = 0.004) while general anxiety symptoms were not different between groups (p = 0.23). Patients relied more on family and friends for support (30% vs. 2% in controls, p < 0.001) and reported better compliance with protective measures (p = 0.03). Mental health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment were not different between groups (p = 0.17 and p = 0.68, respectively). Physical health-related quality of life was lower in patients compared to controls (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Young adults with congenital heart disease in Switzerland are more concerned about their health during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to healthy peers. These concerns, however, do not translate into generally impaired mental wellbeing. The impact of the easing of lockdown measures on long-term anxiety levels and quality of life requires further study     

Managing the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patient in the COVID-19 Pandemic—A New York Perspective

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are likely at increased risk for complications of COVID-19. ACHD centers should prepare to deliver routine cardiac care and support for patients with COVID-19 safely at home, as the number of COVID-19 infections worldwide continues to increase. This brief report aims to share the strategies we have used in our ACHD program to manage and treat our patients during this global health crisis at one of the initial epicenters of the pandemic in New York City, and offer suggestions for preparation for ACHD clinicians.     

Heart,COVID-19, and echocardiography

Although clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) mainly consist of respiratory symptoms, a severe cardiovascular damage may occur. Moreover, previous studies reported a correlation of cardiovascular metabolic diseases with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and actually, many COVID-19 patients show comorbidities (systemic hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes) and have a raised risk of death. The purpose of this review is to focus the cardiovascular effects of 2019-nCoV on the base of the most recent specific literature and previous learnings from SARS and MERS and analyze the potential role of echocardiography during the current critical period and short- and long-term follow-up.     

Preoperative Risk Assessment and Perioperative Management of Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) constitute a growing population with complex cardiac physiopathology and frequent extra-cardiac involvement. The recent dramatic improvement of their life expectancy has resulted in an increasing proportion of ACHD patients requiring non-cardiac surgery. While a large body of evidence demonstrated the importance of an accurate risk assessment in patients with acquired heart disease before noncardiac surgery in order to reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality and detailed algorithms have been released by international societies, no specific guidelines are available for the perioperative management in this population. Nonetheless, understanding the complex anatomy and unusual physiology of both repaired and unrepaired congenital heart disease is paramount to meet the unique needs of these patients and to ensure an adequate perioperative management and prevention of complications. Furthermore, anaesthesiologists and surgeons unfamiliar with congenital heart disease may be not aware of the variety of different disease-related issues, which may arise in ACHD patients during the hemodynamic changes of the perioperative phase, with possible severe adverse effects on cardiac performance. We herein review the limited evidence from the literature and summarize our personal experience in a tertiary ACHD centre in order to propose a first structured approach for preoperative risk assessment and perioperative management to reduce the mortality and morbidity risk in adults with congenital heart disease undergoing non-cardiac surgery.     

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been the defining healthcare issue since its outbreak, consuming healthcare systems and disrupting all aspects of human life throughout 2020 and continuing through 2021. When reviewing cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the first tendency may be to focus on the negative disruption. Months of quarantine, isolation, and missed healthcare visits or delayed care may have exacerbated the epidemic of CVD in the United States. Looking back, however, perhaps it wasn’t a lost year as much as a health crisis that better prepared us for the battle to improve cardiovascular health. The pandemic brought new platforms for interacting with patients eager to engage, presenting a unique opportunity to reset how we approach preventive care.In this review, we discuss what the pandemic has taught us about caring for those vulnerable patients who were most afflicted—older adults, persons of color, and people facing adverse socioeconomic circumstances—and who continue to be impacted by CVD. We also identify opportunities for enhanced CVD prevention now boosted by the overnight adoption of telemedicine and other innovative cardiac care models. Lastly, we discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has motivated physicians and patients alike to prioritize our health above all else, if only transiently, and how we can leverage this increased health awareness and investment into long-term, meaningful disease prevention.     

Acquired Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Issues in Diagnosis and Management

Objective: Acquired coronary artery disease, initially thought to rarely affect survivors of congenital heart disease, is increasingly recognized in this population, as these patients grow in age and numbers in the recent era. This study reports our experience with coronary artery disease in adults with congenital heart disease and discusses treatment issues and the existing literature. Methods: Retrospective review of all charts of adults with congenital heart disease and acquired coronary artery disease was performed. Patients’ clinical characteristics, diagnosis, risk factors, noninvasive and invasive imaging and management data were recorded. Results: Coronary artery disease was diagnosed at 35–70 of age in 17 patients out of a total of 1345 adult congenital heart disease patients followed. Congenital heart disease was moderate or complex in 5 patients (4 repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, 1 repaired ventricular septal defect) and simple unrepaired atrial septal defect diagnosed later in life before or after coronary artery disease identi- fication in 12 patients. Coronary artery disease symptoms were present in 12 patients (8 myocardial infarctions, 4 exercise intolerance), while all patients had 2–3 risk factors for coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography showed 1–3 vessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in 7 patients, coronary artery bypass graft in 2 patients and both in 2 patients. Patients received appropriate medical therapy and remained stable for 1–17 years, while 2 patients are awaiting surgical pulmonary valve replacement in the near future. Conclusion: Coronary artery disease can develop in adults with congenital heart disease later in life in the presence of traditional risk factors, and prevention, screening and treatment strategies should be applied in this population. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the extent of this issue in this increasing and ageing population and to determine its optimal medical, interventional and surgical management.     

Use of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Patients: Results from the German National Registry for Congenital Heart Defects

Background: Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Risk stratification for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) remains difficult due to limited data about use and outcome of device therapy in CHD patients in larger community-based cohorts. Methods and results: Out of a dataset with more than 50,000 patients registered at the German National Register for Congenital Heart Defects, 109 patients (median age 35.5; IQR 23.75–46.00), 68 (62%) male) with an ICD were identified and were retrospectively analyzed. Although the number of implantations increased steadily throughout the investigated time interval from 2001 to 2015, only 0.2% of the CHD patients in the national register received an ICD. Indication for ICD implantation was secondary prevention in 84 patients (78%) and primary prevention in 24 patients (22%). 23 patients (21%) of the ICD patients received appropriate ICD therapy. 7 patients (6%) received an inappropriate ICD therapy. In 23 patients (21%) device complications were documented with a high number of lead fractures and insulation defects (n = 14,13%). Conclusion: The current study investigates the clinical uptake and use of ICD therapy based on a large national registry for CHD patients. Despite a steady increase in the number of implanted devices, ICD uptake remains relatively low, particularly for primary prevention. The data suggests a potential reluctance in utilization of device therapy in this patient cohort for primary prevention. Selecting patients in whom benefits outweigh the risks associated with lifelong ICD therapy remains challenging.