of arrhythmia were up to 3 times more likely to experience heart failure, stroke, or other heart-related complications compared to those without arrhythmia. “Our study highlights the importance of monitoring and managing arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease, as they are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes,” said the lead author.
Almost 20% of adults in Israel living with congenital heart disease experienced an abnormal heart rhythm during a five-year study, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study, which included over 11,000 adults with congenital heart disease, found that those who developed arrhythmia were at a much higher risk for heart failure, stroke, and other complications compared to those without arrhythmia. The lead author stressed the importance of monitoring and managing arrhythmias in this population due to their association with increased risk of adverse outcomes.A study found that people with irregular heart rhythms have a higher risk of hospitalization and twice the risk of early death compared to those without irregular heart rhythms. The lead author of the study, Nili Schamroth-Pravda, emphasized the importance of ongoing clinical follow-up for people with congenital heart disease. She also noted that as medical and surgical techniques improve, more patients with congenital heart disease are reaching adulthood, leading to an increase in complications associated with these conditions.The health care system must recognize the negative impact of arrhythmias in the growing population with congenital heart disease, leading to an increase in primary care visits and hospitalizations,” explained Schamroth-Pravda.
The study revealed:
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- Almost 20% of adults with congenital heart disease had irregular heart rhythms at the beginning of the study or developed them over the course of five years.
- Adults with congenital heart disease who developed atrial tachyarrhythmia, a fast heart rate originating in the heart’s upper chambers, were 65% more likely to die prematurely compared to those without an irregular heartbeat.
– People with a fast heart rate caused by rapid contracting of the heart’s lower chambers, known as ventricular tachyarrhythmia, were twice as likely to die earlier than those without an irregular heartbeat.
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- Patients who had abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia, or a slowed heartbeat (atrioventricular block) in the past six months had a 33% higher rate of hospitalization compared to those without these irregular heart rhythms.
- Researchers have found that surgical scar tissue in the heart, even years after repairing a congenital heart defect, may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms.The risk of abnormal heart rhythms later in life increases for adults with congenital heart disease. Detecting and managing arrhythmias early is crucial for preventing life-threatening health risks. Understanding the frequency and progression of different types of arrhythmias in these patients can enhance treatment and reduce complications and hospitalizations.This study is one of the first to examine the use of healthcare services in relation to arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease.
“Our research indicates that the emergenceThe management of arrhythmias is a crucial aspect of care for adult patients with congenital heart disease, and it has significant implications for the healthcare system, as stated by Schamroth-Pravda. She emphasized the importance of their study, which is based on extensive real-world data and provides valuable insights into an often overlooked population. Schamroth-Pravda highlighted the variability of congenital heart disease, with individuals having simple or complex heart lesions, all carrying a potential risk of abnormal heart rhythm in later life. Therefore, she recommended that each patient be individually assessed and regularly monitored. This information is based on the 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S.According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 13.3 million people worldwide were living with congenital heart diseases in 2019. This number increased by 28% between 1990 and 2019, with the majority of the rise coming from more adolescents, younger adults, and middle-aged adults living with congenital heart diseases.
The study included 11,653 adults diagnosed with congenital heart disease in Israel from January 2007 to December 2011, who were followed for 5 years. Universal health insurance in Israel allowed for comprehensive data collection from the two largest national databases.
- The research focused on mental health services.
- At the beginning of the study period, the average age of the participants was 47 years. Of the participants, 52% were women; 70% were Jewish, about 7% were Arab, and 23% were categorized as “mixed.” The term “mixed” was used for the group in which it was unclear about the patient’s ethnicity due to living in regions with mixed Jewish/Arab residents.
- The data analysis was carried out in 2023.
- Most of the participants in the study had a single heart defect, and all of them had at least one documented congenital heart lesion or a specific congenital heart malformation repair procedure.
- At least rnrn18 different types of congenital heart defects are recognized by the American Heart Association, with some being simple and others being complex.
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According to a study, 30% of adults had an atrial septal defect, 26% had aortic valve disease, and 14% had a ventricular septal defect.
At the beginning of the study, 8.7% of patients were diagnosed with tachyarrhythmia (abnormally fast heart rate), 1.5% had a conduction disturbance, and 0.5% had both conditions.
Within the subgroup with tachyarrhythmia, 60% had abnormally fast heart rate.The study found that 17.1% of patients had fast heart rates in the upper atrial regions of the heart, while 5.7% had abnormally fast heart rates in the lower ventricular regions of the heart. Patients without arrhythmia at the start of the study were younger, with a median age of 45 years compared to patients with arrhythmia, who had a median age of 50 years. It is important to note that the findings are based solely on patients in Israel, so it is unclear how these results might apply to adults with congenital heart disease in the United States or elsewhere.
