Open Access

ARTICLE

Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease

by

1 Division of Cardiology, Children’s Heart Centre, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2 Division of Cardiology, Stollery Children’s Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

* Corresponding Author: Kevin C. Harris, Division of Cardiology, Children’s Heart Centre, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, 1F27 – 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3V4. Email:

Congenital Heart Disease 2018, 13(4), 563-570. https://doi.org/10.1111/chd.12612

Abstract

Objective: Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease than the general population due to their underlying physiology and/or surgical sequelae. We sought to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in youth and adults with CHD.
Methods: We assessed cardiovascular health as per the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) health index in patients with CHD aged 15+ years who attended cardiology outpatient clinics. Participants self-reported smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and whether they had diabetes and hypertension. Individual health indices were categorized into ideal/not ideal, and sum of individual health indices was categorized as poor, intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health as per CANHEART criteria.
Results: We included n = 102 adults (35.4 ± 12.9 years, 46% female) and n = 88 youth (17.2 ± 1.1 years, 41% female). Most individuals reported to be nonsmokers (88% youth vs 86% adults) and to consume ≥5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (83% vs 85%, respectively). More adults than youth were overweight/obese (52% vs 22%, p < 0.001) though more adults than youth reported meeting age-specific physical activity guidelines (84% vs 55%, p < 0.001). According to CANHEART health index criteria, 32% of youth and 27% of adults were in ideal cardiovascular health.
Conclusions: A low proportion of individuals with CHD are in ideal cardiovascular health, suggesting a need to promote healthy lifestyles during adolescence and throughout adulthood in these individuals.

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