Open Access

ARTICLE

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

Jodi L. Feinberg¹, Peter Sheng², Stephanie Pena², Adam J. Small¹, Susanna Wendelboe¹, Katlyn Nemani³, Vikram Agrawal⁴, Dan G. Halpern^1,*

1 Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
2 Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
3 Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
4 Department of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Morningside, New York, USA

* Corresponding Author: Dan G. Halpern. Email:

Congenital Heart Disease 2022, 17(5), 519-531. https://doi.org/10.32604/chd.2022.024174

Received 25 May 2022; Accepted 25 July 2022; Issue published 06 September 2022

Abstract

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.

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