Mortality Associated With Congenital Heart Defects in the United States

Social Risk Factors Impact Hospital Readmission and Outpatient Appointment Adherence for Children with Congenital Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relations of individual and cumulative social risk factors to hospitalization outcomes and adherence to outpatient cardiology appointments within the first 2 years of life for congenital heart disease survivors.

STUDY DESIGN

Data were extracted for 219 patients who underwent infant cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Cumulative social risk was dichotomized into high social risk (≥2 risk factors; n = 103) versus low social risk (≤1 risk factor; n = 116). The risk of morbidity by procedure was assigned from 1 to 5 (Society of Thoracic Surgeons and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Morbidity Scores and Categories). Two-way ANOVAs examined the effects of social risk and morbidity risk on length of first surgical hospitalization, number of readmissions and readmission days, subsequent cardiac surgical interventions, and adherence to outpatient cardiology appointments.

RESULTS

An interaction between social risk and morbidity risk was identified for number of readmission days, F(4, 209) = 3.07, P = .02, η² = .06. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated that, among those patients with the lowest risk of morbidity by procedure (morbidity scores of 1 and 2), patients at high social risk had more readmission days than patients at low social risk (morbidity score 1: 16.63 ± 34.41 days vs 3.02 ± 7.13 days; morbidity score 2: 27.68 ± 52.11 days vs 2.20 ± 4.43 days). High social risk also predicted significantly worse adherence to cardiology appointments.

CONCLUSIONS

Cumulative social risk impacts readmission days for patients with congenital heart disease with a low risk of morbidity by procedure. Social risk assessment can identify families who may benefit from social/behavioral interventions to optimize discharge readiness, congenital heart disease home management, and long-term outcomes.

The implementation of a nationwide anomaly screening programme improves prenatal detection of major cardiac defects: an 11-year national population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a nationwide prenatal anomaly screening programme improves detection rates of univentricular heart (UVH) and transposition of great arteries (TGA), and whether maternal risk factors for severe fetal heart disease affect prenatal detection.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

SETTING

Nationwide data from Finnish registries 2004-14.

POPULATION

A total of 642 456 parturients and 3449 terminated pregnancies due to severe fetal anomaly.

METHODS

Prenatal detection rates were calculated in three time periods (prescreening, transition and screening phase). The effect of maternal risk factors (obesity, in vitro fertilisation, pregestational diabetes and smoking) was evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in detection rates and impact of maternal risk factors on screening programme efficacy.

RESULTS

In total, 483 cases of UVH and 184 of TGA were detected. The prenatal detection rate of UVH increased from 50.4% to 82.8% and of TGA from 12.3% to 41.0% (P < 0.0001). Maternal risk factors did not affect prenatal detection rate, but detection rate differed substantially by region.

CONCLUSIONS

A nationwide screening programme improved overall UVH and TGA detection rates, but regional differences were observed. Obesity or other maternal risk factors did not affect the screening programme efficacy. The establishment of structured guidelines and recommendations is essential when implementing the screening programme. In addition, a prospective screening register is highly recommended to ensure high quality of screening.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Implementation of a nationwide prenatal anomaly screening improved detection rates of UVH and TGA.

miR-9 knockdown inhibits hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by targeting Yap1

AIMS

Aberrantly expressed miRNAs are demonstrated to be involved in the development of congenital heart disease (CHD). miR-9 was proposed to be upregulated in cardiac tissues from CHD cases. However, the role of miR-9 in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes and the potential mechanism are far from being addressed.

MAIN METHODS

qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect miR-9 and Yes-associated protein 1 (Yap1) expressions in hypoxic H9c2 cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry analysis, caspase-3/7 activity assay were applied to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and caspase-3/7 activity, respectively. The interaction between miR-9 and Yap1 was explored by luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot.

KEY FINDINGS

miR-9 was upregulated and Yap1 was downregulated in H9c2 cells in response to hypoxia in a time-dependent manner. Knockdown of miR-9 promoted cell proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis and caspase-3/7 activity in hypoxic H9c2 cells, while miR-9 overexpression exerted the opposite effects on hypoxic H9c2 cells. In addition, Yap1 was a direct target of miR-9 in H9c2 cells. Yap1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in hypoxia-exposed H9c2 cells. Yap1 knockdown attenuated the effect of anti-miR-9 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxia-exposed H9c2 cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

miR-9 knockdown inhibited hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by targeting Yap1. Our study provided a novel insight into the mechanism of the adaptation of cardiomyocytes to chronic hypoxia.

Role of Segregation for Variant Discovery in Multiplex Families Ascertained by Probands With Left Sided Cardiovascular Malformations

Cardiovascular malformations (CVM) are common birth defects (incidence of 2-5/100 live births). Although a genetic basis is established, in most cases the cause remains unknown. Analysis of whole exome sequencing (WES) in left sided CVM case and trio series has identified large numbers of potential variants but evidence of causality has remained elusive except in a small percentage of cases. We sought to determine whether variant segregation in families would aid in novel gene discovery. The objective was to compare conventional and co-segregation approaches for WES in multiplex families. WES was performed on 52 individuals from 4 multiplex families ascertained by probands with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). We identified rare variants with informatics support (RVIS, minor allele frequency ≤0.01 and Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion score ≥20) in probands. Non-RVIS variants did not meet these criteria. Family specific two point logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores identified co-segregating variants (C-SV) using a dominant model and 80% penetrance. In families, 702 RVIS in 668 genes were identified, but only 1 RVIS was also a C-SV (LOD ≥ 1). On the other hand, there were 109 non-RVIS variants with LOD ≥ 1. Among 110 C-SV, 97% were common (MAF > 1%). These results suggest that conventional variant identification methods focused on RVIS, miss most C-SV. For diseases such as left sided CVM, which exhibit strong familial transmission, co-segregation can identify novel candidates.

IMPACT Registry and National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative: Contributions to Quality in Congenital Heart Disease

The IMproving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatments (IMPACT) Registry and the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) are two efforts initiated to improve outcomes in the congenital heart disease field. The IMPACT Registry is focused on evaluating the use, risks, adverse events (AEs), and outcomes associated with diagnostic and common interventional catheterization procedures in all children and adults with congenital heart disease. Utilizing a modular approach, the common procedures include diagnostic cardiac catheterization, atrial septal defect device closure, patent ductus arteriosus device closure, pulmonary valvuloplasty, aortic valvuloplasty, balloon and stent angioplasty of coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary artery balloon stent angioplasty, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement, and electrophysiology procedures including radiofrequency ablation. To date, important observations on the common procedures have been made and a risk stratification methodology has been created to allow comparisons between centers in AEs and quality improvement activity. The registry is open to international participation. The NPC-QIC was developed to reduce mortality and improve the quality of life of infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) during the interstage period between discharge from the Norwood operation and admission for the bidirectional Glenn procedure. Mortality in the interstage has been reduced by 44%. The IMPACT Registry and the NPC-QIC have demonstrated value to the congenital heart disease community. The IMPACT Registry, however, has not yet demonstrated an impact on patient outcomes. The NPC-QIC, which combines both a registry with a learning collaborative with specific aims, key drivers, and change strategies, has made more significant gains with reductions in variation, growth failures, and mortality.

Psychosocial Factors in Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs and Their Families

Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families may experience a variety of internal (ie, emotional and behavioral) and external (ie, interpersonal, financial, housing, and educational) psychosocial factors that can influence their health and wellness. Many CYSHCN and their families are resilient and thrive. Medical home teams can partner with CYSHCN and their families to screen for, evaluate, and promote psychosocial health to increase protective factors and ameliorate risk factors. Medical home teams can promote protective psychosocial factors as part of coordinated, comprehensive chronic care for CYSHCN and their families. A team-based care approach may entail collaboration across the care spectrum, including youth, families, behavioral health providers, specialists, child care providers, schools, social services, and other community agencies. The purpose of this clinical report is to raise awareness of the impact of psychosocial factors on the health and wellness of CYSHCN and their families. This clinical report provides guidance for pediatric providers to facilitate and coordinate care that can have a positive influence on the overall health, wellness, and quality of life of CYSHCN and their families.

High mortality due to congenital malformations in children aged < 1 year in French Guiana

BACKGROUND

In French Guiana, pregnant women may be exposed to infectious, environmental, and social risks leading to congenital malformation. The objective of the study was to study mortality rates from congenital malformations among infants < 1 year and to compare them with those in mainland France.

METHODS

We used the CEPI DC (INSERM) database, which compiles annual data from death certificates in all French territories using the International Classification of Diseases. Annual deaths for French Guiana and mainland France between 2005 and 2015 were compiled. The age category studied was children less than 1 year and deaths from congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities were compiled. Crude risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to quantify the excess risk of disease in French Guiana.

RESULTS

In French Guiana between 2005 and 2015 there were 666 deaths of children aged < 1 year, among which, 132 (19.8%) were due to congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies. Overall the risk ratio of death from congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies between French Guiana and mainland France was 2.7 (1.5-4.7), P < 0.001 for neurological congenital malformations it was 4.8 (1.2-19.7), P = 0.01 and for congenital malformations of the circulatory system it was 3.3 (1.5-6.9), P = 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of death from congenital malformations or chromosomal anomalies in French Guiana was significantly higher than in mainland France. Explanations for this may be infections, genetic causes, nutritional causes, and toxic causes that are prevalent. There is a need to identify factors that predispose children born in French Guiana to having a higher risk of congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies.

Preclinical performance of a pediatric mechanical circulatory support device: The PediaFlow ventricular assist device

OBJECTIVES

The PediaFlow (HeartWare International, Inc, Framingham, Mass) is a miniature, implantable, rotodynamic, fully magnetically levitated, continuous-flow pediatric ventricular assist device. The fourth-generation PediaFlow was evaluated in vitro and in vivo to characterize performance and biocompatibility.

METHODS

Supported by 2 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute contract initiatives to address the limited options available for pediatric patients with congenital or acquired cardiac disease, the PediaFlow was developed with the intent to provide chronic cardiac support for infants as small as 3 kg. The University of Pittsburgh-led Consortium evaluated fourth-generation PediaFlow prototypes both in vitro and within a preclinical ovine model (n = 11). The latter experiments led to multiple redesigns of the inflow cannula and outflow graft, resulting in the implantable design represented in the most recent implants (n = 2).

RESULTS

With more than a decade of extensive computational and experimental efforts spanning 4 device iterations, the AA battery-sized fourth-generation PediaFlow has an operating range of 0.5 to 1.5 L/min with minimal hemolysis in vitro and excellent hemocompatibility (eg, minimal hemolysis and platelet activation) in vivo. The pump and finalized accompanying implantable components demonstrated preclinical hemodynamics suitable for the intended pediatric application for up to 60 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Designated a Humanitarian Use Device for "mechanical circulatory support in neonates, infants, and toddlers weighing up to 20 kg as a bridge to transplant, a bridge to other therapeutic intervention such as surgery, or as a bridge to recovery" by the Food and Drug Administration, these initial results document the biocompatibility and potential of the fourth-generation PediaFlow design to provide chronic pediatric cardiac support.

Lower Regional Pediatric In-hospital Mortality Albeit Racial/ethnic Disparities

PURPOSE

Variability in pediatric morbidity and mortality tends to be influenced by several factors including though not limited to social determinants of health, namely health inequity as an exposure function of health disparities. We aimed to assess the cumulative incidence of pediatric mortality, racial/ethnic disparities, and the predisposing factors for the disparities.

METHOD

The current study retrospectively examined the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children medical records of 16,121 patients diagnosed with any pediatric condition during 2009 and 2010.

RESULTS

In-hospital pediatric mortality cumulative incidence was relatively low (80 deaths, 0.49%) when compared with similar settings in the U.S. (national average range, 0.8e1.1%) during the same period. Compared with whites/Caucasians, mortality was higher among blacks/African Americans, prevalence odds ratio (POR), 1.06, 95% CI, 0.77e1.45, and higher for some other race, POR, 1.48, 95% CI, 1.06e2.10. After controlling for potential confounders (severity of illness, insurance status, and length of stay), racial differences in pediatric mortality did not persist between whites and some other race, adjusted POR, 1.08, 99% CI, 0.75e1.57.

CONCLUSIONS

In-hospital pediatric mortality cumulative incidence was relatively low in our region, and racial disparities exist but did not persist after controlling for confounders. These findings are suggestive of the importance of social determinants of health namely quality care, adequate medical insurance, and early detection, diagnosis in pediatric morbidity and epigenomic alterations, as well as the need to go beyond the "close medical model" to improve pediatric morbidity and survival by addressing health inequity as a function of health disparities.

Hospitalization Trends and Health Resource Use for Adult Congenital Heart Disease-Related Heart Failure

Background This study assessed trends in heart failure ( HF) hospitalizations and health resource use in patients with adult congenital heart disease ( ACHD ). Methods and Results The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to compare ACHD with non- ACHD HF hospitalization and health resource trends. Health resource use was assessed using total hospital charges, hospital length of stay, and procedural burden. A total of 87 175±2676 ACHD -related HF hospitalizations occurred between 1998 and 2011. During this time, ACHD HF hospitalizations increased 91% (4620±438-8809±740, P<0.0001) versus a 21% increase in non- ACHD HF hospitalizations ( P=0.003). ACHD HF hospitalization was associated with longer length of stay ( ACHD HF versus non- ACHD HF, 7.2±0.09 versus 6.8±0.02 days; P<0.0001), greater procedural burden, and higher charges ($81 332±$1650 versus $52 050±$379; P<0.0001). ACHD HF hospitalization charges increased 258% during the study period ($26 533±$1816 in 1998 versus $94 887±$8310 in 2011; P=0.0002), more than double that for non- ACHD HF ( P=0.04). Patients with ACHD HF hospitalized in high-volume ACHD centers versus others were more likely to undergo invasive hemodynamic testing (30.2±0.6% versus 20.7±0.5%; P<0.0001) and to receive cardiac resynchronization/defibrillator devices (4.7±0.3% versus 1.8±0.2%; P<0.0001) and mechanical circulatory support (3.9±0.2% versus 2.4±0.2%; P<0.0001). Conclusions ACHD -related HF hospitalizations have increased dramatically in recent years and are associated with disproportionately higher costs, procedural burden, and health resource use.

Digoxin Use in Infants with Single Ventricle Physiology: Secondary Analysis of the Pediatric Heart Network Infant Single Ventricle Trial Public Use Dataset

Digoxin has been associated with reduced interstage mortality after Norwood procedure. We sought to determine its association with survival and change in weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) before the superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) surgery and at 14 months in a heterogeneous group of single ventricle infants. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Pediatric Heart Network Infant Single Ventricle public use dataset to determine associations between digoxin and survival, transplant-free survival, and change in WAZ pre-SCPC and at 14 months. Sub-analyses of survival and transplant-free survival were performed for subjects who underwent Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS)/Norwood. Propensity score weighting was used in Cox hazard-proportion models. Of 229 subjects, 82 (36%) received digoxin and 147 (64%) received no digoxin. Pre-SCPC and 14-month survival and transplant-free survival were not significantly different between the digoxin and no digoxin groups for the main cohort and DKS/Norwood sub-group. However, in DKS/Norwood subjects there was a trend towards improved interstage transplant-free survival in the digoxin group (95.7 vs. 89.6%, p = 0.08). Digoxin was associated with a greater decrease in WAZ from birth to pre-SCPC (- 1.96 ± 0.19 vs. - 1.31 ± 0.18, p < 0.001) and birth to 14 months (- 0.64 ± 0.15 vs. - 0.19 ± 0.15, p = 0.03). Digoxin was not associated with improved survival during the interstage or at 14 months in a mixed single ventricle cohort, but there was a trend towards improved interstage transplant-free survival in post-Norwood infants. As digoxin was associated with poorer weight gain, further research is needed to identify the risks/benefits for anatomic subtypes of infants with single ventricles.

Outcome of pediatric heart transplantation in blood culture positive donors in the United States

Active donor infection at the time of organ procurement poses a potential infection risk and may increase post-transplant morbidity and mortality in recipients. Our hypothesis was that pediatric heart transplant recipients from blood culture positive donors (BCPD) would have increased morbidity and mortality compared to non-blood culture positive donors (NBCPD). A retrospective analysis of pediatric heart transplant recipients using the organ procurement and transplant network (OPTN) between 1987 and 2015 was conducted. Recipient as well as donor data were analyzed. Propensity score matching with 1:2 ratios was performed for recipient variables. Post-transplant morbidity and mortality were compared for recipients of BCPD and NBCPD. Among 9618 heart transplant recipients, 450 (4.7%) were from culture positive donors. Recipients of BCPD had longer duration of listing as Status 1; diagnosis of congenital heart disease or restrictive cardiomyopathy and required support (IV inotropes, Inhaled NO and LVAD) prior to transplant. Post-transplant survival between the 2 groups was not different. Propensity-matched recipients had similar length of stay; stroke rate; need for dialysis; pacemaker implantation and treated rejection episodes in the first year post-transplant. Careful acceptance of BCPD may have the potential to increase availability of donor hearts in the pediatric population.

Risk factors for excess mortality in adults with congenital heart diseases

Aims

To examine factors related to excess mortality in a cohort of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods and results

We conducted a survival analysis using prospective data of 3311 adults with CHD [50.5% males, median age at entry 22.5 years (IQR 18-39), median follow-up time 10.5 years (IQR: 4.4-18)]. Survival status of each patient was further verified by cross checking with the Spanish National Death Index. During a total follow-up of 37608 person-years, 336 (10%) patients died. Annual death rate was 0.89% and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 2.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-3.0; P < 0.001]. Median age at death estimated by left-truncated Kaplan-Meier method was 75.1 years (95% CI 73-77). Survival was reduced compared with the general population whatever their level of complexity, repair status, or underlying CHD. Independent risk factors for excess mortality, including cyanosis, univentricular physiology, genetic disorders, ventricular dysfunction, residual haemodynamic lesions and acquired late complications, among others, were identified by left-truncated Cox regression model. SMR was 5.22 (95% CI 4.5-6.0; P < 0.001) and median age at death 55.6 years (95% CI 50-61) for 996 patients (30%) with at least one risk factor. In contrast, SMR was 1.14 (95% CI 0.9-1.5; P = 0.19) and median age at death 83.7 years (95% CI 82-87) in 2315 patients (70%) with no risk factors.

Conclusions

Clinical parameters, such as anatomical features, haemodynamic sequelae, or acquired complications, were independent predictors of excess mortality in adults with CHD. Survival of individuals with no risk factors did not differ from the reference population.

3D Printing is a Transformative Technology in Congenital Heart Disease

Survival in congenital heart disease has steadily improved since 1938, when Dr. Robert Gross successfully ligated for the first time a patent ductus arteriosus in a 7-year-old child. To continue the gains made over the past 80 years, transformative changes with broad impact are needed in management of congenital heart disease. Three-dimensional printing is an emerging technology that is fundamentally affecting patient care, research, trainee education, and interactions among medical teams, patients, and caregivers. This paper first reviews key clinical cases where the technology has affected patient care. It then discusses 3-dimensional printing in trainee education. Thereafter, the role of this technology in communication with multidisciplinary teams, patients, and caregivers is described. Finally, the paper reviews translational technologies on the horizon that promise to take this nascent field even further.

Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects

BACKGROUND

Health outcomes are improved when newborn babies with critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) are detected before acute cardiovascular collapse. The main screening tests used to identify these babies include prenatal ultrasonography and postnatal clinical examination; however, even though both of these methods are available, a significant proportion of babies are still missed. Routine pulse oximetry has been reported as an additional screening test that can potentially improve detection of CCHD.

OBJECTIVES

• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximetry as a screening method for detection of CCHD in asymptomatic newborn infants• To assess potential sources of heterogeneity, including:○ characteristics of the population: inclusion or exclusion of antenatally detected congenital heart defects;○ timing of testing: < 24 hours versus ≥ 24 hours after birth;○ site of testing: right hand and foot (pre-ductal and post-ductal) versus foot only (post-ductal);○ oxygen saturation: functional versus fractional;○ study design: retrospective versus prospective design, consecutive versus non-consecutive series; and○ risk of bias for the "flow and timing" domain of QUADAS-2.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2017, Issue 2) in the Cochrane Library and the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Health Services Research Projects in Progress (HSRProj), up to March 2017. We searched the reference lists of all included articles and relevant systematic reviews to identify additional studies not found through the electronic search. We applied no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We selected studies that met predefined criteria for design, population, tests, and outcomes. We included cross-sectional and cohort studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximetry screening for diagnosis of CCHD in term and late preterm asymptomatic newborn infants. We considered all protocols of pulse oximetry screening (eg, different saturation thresholds to define abnormality, post-ductal only or pre-ductal and post-ductal measurements, test timing less than or greater than 24 hours). Reference standards were diagnostic echocardiography (echocardiogram) and clinical follow-up, including postmortem findings, mortality, and congenital anomaly databases.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted accuracy data for the threshold used in primary studies. We explored between-study variability and correlation between indices visually through use of forest and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots. We assessed risk of bias in included studies using the QUADAS-2 tool. We used the bivariate model to calculate random-effects pooled sensitivity and specificity values. We investigated sources of heterogeneity using subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria (N = 457,202 participants). Nineteen studies provided data for the primary analysis (oxygen saturation threshold < 95% or ≤ 95%; N = 436,758 participants). The overall sensitivity of pulse oximetry for detection of CCHD was 76.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 69.5 to 82.0) (low certainty of the evidence). Specificity was 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 99.9), with a false-positive rate of 0.14% (95% CI 0.07 to 0.22) (high certainty of the evidence). Summary positive and negative likelihood ratios were 535.6 (95% CI 280.3 to 1023.4) and 0.24 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.31), respectively. These results showed that out of 10,000 apparently healthy late preterm or full-term newborn infants, six will have CCHD (median prevalence in our review). Screening by pulse oximetry will detect five of these infants as having CCHD and will miss one case. In addition, screening by pulse oximetry will falsely identify another 14 infants out of the 10,000 as having suspected CCHD when they do not have it.The false-positive rate for detection of CCHD was lower when newborn pulse oximetry was performed longer than 24 hours after birth than when it was performed within 24 hours (0.06%, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.13, vs 0.42%, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.89; P = 0.027).Forest and ROC plots showed greater variability in estimated sensitivity than specificity across studies. We explored heterogeneity by conducting subgroup analyses and meta-regression of inclusion or exclusion of antenatally detected congenital heart defects, timing of testing, and risk of bias for the "flow and timing" domain of QUADAS-2, and we did not find an explanation for the heterogeneity in sensitivity.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Pulse oximetry is a highly specific and moderately sensitive test for detection of CCHD with very low false-positive rates. Current evidence supports the introduction of routine screening for CCHD in asymptomatic newborns before discharge from the well-baby nursery.

Regional differences in right versus left congenital heart disease diagnoses in neonates in the United States

BACKGROUND

Differences in the prevalence of left and right congenital heart defects (CHD) across the United States are unclear. This study evaluated the overall prevalence and the distribution of right versus left CHD across US regions and divisions in neonates.

METHODS

Newborns born from 2000 to 2014 diagnosed with CHD were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Heart defects were stratified into right, left, and "neither" subtypes. The risk of right and left heart diagnoses between US Census regions and divisions was compared using multivariable binomial regression, adjusting for infant, and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty thousand four hundred fifty-five newborns were included and 38,185 (15.9%) were classifiable as having either right or left subtypes. Between 2000 and 2014, the prevalence of right defects increased from 1.65 to 2.88 cases/1,000 live born infants (p < .0001), left defects increased from 0.47 to 0.75 cases/1,000 live born infants (p < .0001), and "neither" defects increased from 10.82 to 20.09 cases/1,000 live born infants (p < .0001). Newborns in the Northeast (RD_adj .03, 95% CI .02, .03), Midwest (RD_adj .02, 95% CI .02, .03), and South (RD_adj .02, 95% CI .02, .02) were significantly more likely to have a right heart defect diagnosis compared to the West. When stratified by division, New England states had a significantly higher prevalence of right defects compared to the Pacific (RD_adj .09, 95% CI .06, 0.11). No differences in the prevalence of left defects were seen.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of CHD diagnoses at birth in the US has increased, and regional differences in the prevalence of right defects appear to exist.

Kosovo's Experience for Children with Feeding Difficulties after Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Defect

BACKGROUND:

A feeding disorder in infancy and during childhood is a complex condition involving different symptoms such as food refusal and faddiest, both leading to a decreased food intake.

AIM:

We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictor factors of feeding difficulties in children who underwent cardiac open heart surgery in neonatal period and infancy. We address selected nutritional and caloric requirements for children after cardiac surgery and explore nutritional interdependence with other system functions.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective study in a tertiary referral hospital, and prior approval from the institutional ethics committee was obtained. Information for 78 children (42 male and 36 female) was taken from patients charts. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

RESULTS:

From a cohort of analysed children with feeding problems we have occurred in 23% of such cases. At the time of the study, refusal to eat or poor appetite was reported as a significant problem in 19 children and subnormal height and weight were recorded in 11 children. Early neonatal intervention and reoperation were identified as risk factors for latter feeding difficulties or inadequate intake. Children with feeding problems also tended to eat less than children without feeding problems. There was a trend towards more feeding problems in patients with chromosomal abnormalities or other associated anomalies.

CONCLUSION:

Feeding disorder is often and a frequent long-term sequel in children after neonatal or early infancy heart surgery. Patients with chromosomal and associated anomalies who underwent multiple cardiac surgeries are at risk of developing feeding difficulties.

Trends of Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Death Among Children and Young Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Previous estimates of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults vary significantly, and population-based studies in the United States are lacking. We sought to estimate the incidence, causes, and mortality trends of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults (1-34 years).

METHODS

Demographic and mortality data based on death certificates for US residents (1-34 years) were obtained (1999-2015). Cases of sudden death and sudden cardiac death were retrieved by using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes.

RESULTS

A total of 1 452 808 subjects aged 1 to 34 years died in the United States, of which 31 492 (2%) were due to sudden cardiac death. The estimated incidence of sudden cardiac death is 1.32 per 100 000 individuals and increased with age from 0.49 (1-10 years) to 2.76 (26-34 years). During the study period, incidence of sudden cardiac death declined from 1.48 to 1.13 per 100 000 (P < .001). Mortality reduction was observed across all racial and ethnic groups with a varying magnitude and was highest in children aged 11 to 18 years. Significant disparities were found, with non-Hispanic African American individuals and individuals aged 26 to 34 years having the highest mortality rates. The majority of young children (1-10 years) died of congenital heart disease (n = 1525, 46%), whereas young adults died most commonly from ischemic heart disease (n = 5075, 29%).

CONCLUSIONS

Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death rates declined 24% from 1999 to 2015. Disparities in mortality exist across age groups and racial and ethnic groups, with non-Hispanic African American individuals having the highest mortality rates.

Prenatal influence of congenital heart defects on trajectories of cortical folding of the fetal brain using three-dimensional ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to investigate the prenatal influence of congenital heart defects (CHD) on trajectories of fetal cortical folding using three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US).

METHOD

We included 20 CHD fetuses and 193 controls for studying the fetal brain at 22, 26 and 32 weeks' gestational age (GA). The Sylvian, insula and parieto-occipital fissure (POF) depths were measured using 3D US, and reliability was evaluated. Doppler indices of the umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery were measured to calculate the cerebro-placental ratio. Associations between CHD and cortical folding were estimated using linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Brain fissure measurements were successful in over 80% of 3D US scans, except for the POF at 32 weeks' GA (65%). All measurements showed a good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.84). Growth trajectories of the left insula depth (ß = -2.753, 95% CI = -5.375; -0.130, p = 0.040) and right POF (ß = -3.762, 95% CI = -7.178; -0.346, p = 0.031) were decreased in CHD compared with controls, whereas growth rates were increased (ß = 0.014, 95% CI = 0.001; 0.027, p = 0.036 and ß = 0.024, 95% CI = 0.007; 0.041, p = 0.006). In contrast to controls, we found no associations between cerebro-placental ratio and cortical folding in CHD.

CONCLUSION

Fetal cortical folding can be evaluated reliably by measuring brain fissure depths. Trajectories of cortical folding between 22 and 32 weeks' GA seem to be influenced by CHD. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cerebral Microhemorrhage: A Frequent Magnetic Resonance Imaging Finding in Pediatric Patients after Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to estimate the incidence and burden of cerebral microhemorrhage (CM) in patients with heart disease who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), as detected on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), a magnetic resonance (MR) sequence that is highly sensitive to hemorrhagic products.

Materials and Methods:

With Institutional Review Board waiver of consent, MR imaging (MRI) of a cohort of 86 consecutive pediatric patients with heart failure who underwent heart transplantation evaluation were retrospectively reviewed for CM. A nested case–control study was performed. The CPB group consisted of 23 pediatric patients with heart failure from various cardiac conditions who underwent CPB. The control group was comprised of 13 pediatric patients with similar cardiac conditions, but without CPB history. Ten patients in the CPB group were female (age: 5 days to 16 years at the time of the CPB and 6 days to 17 years at the time of the MRI). The time interval between the CPB and MRI ranged from 11 days to 4 years and 5 months. Six patients in the control group were female, age range of 2 days to 6 years old. The number of CM on SWI was counted by three radiologists (PK, EK and DK). The differences in number of CM between groups were tested for significance using Mann–Whitney U-test, α = 0.05. Using the univariate analysis of variance model, the differences in number of CM between groups were also tested with adjustment for age at MRI.

Results:

There are statistically significant differences in CM on SWI between the CPB group and control group with more CM were observed in the CPB group without and with adjustment for age at MRI (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Exposure of CPB is associated with increased prevalence and burden of CM among pediatric patients with heart failure.

Effect of Concomitant Birth Defects and Genetic Anomalies on Infant Mortality in Tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND

A substantial proportion of infants born with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) die in infancy. A better understanding of the heterogeneity associated with TOF, including extracardiac malformations and chromosomal anomalies is vital to stratifying risk and optimizing outcomes during infancy.

METHODS

Using the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program, infants diagnosed with TOF and born between 2003 and 2012 were included. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate cumulative 1-year mortality, stratified by the presence of concomitant birth defects (BDs) and chromosomal anomalies. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the direct effect of each concomitant BD, after adjusting for all others.

RESULTS

A total of 496 infants with TOF were included, and 15% (n = 76) died. The number of concomitant BD systems was significantly associated with the risk of death at 1-year, p < 0.0001. Specifically, the risk of mortality was 8% among infants with TOF with or without additional cardiac defects, 16% among infants with TOF and 1 extracardiac BD system, 19% among infants with 2 extracardiac BD systems, and 39% among infants with ≥ 3 extracardiac BD systems. After adjustment, concomitant eye and gastrointestinal defects were significantly associated increased with 1-year mortality, odds ratio 2.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-7.32) and odds ratio 4.43 (95% confidence interval, 1.57, 12.45), respectively. Infants with trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 were also significantly more likely to die, p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Both concomitant BDs and genetic anomalies increase the risk of mortality among infants with TOF. Future studies are needed to identify the underlying genetic and socioeconomic risk factors for high-risk TOF infants. Birth Defects Research 109:1154-1165, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Increased Energy Loss Due to Twist and Offset Buckling of the Total Cavopulmonary Connection

The hemodynamic energy loss through the surgically implanted conduits determines the postoperative cardiac output and exercise capacity following the palliative repair of single-ventricle congenital heart defects. In this study, the hemodynamics of severely deformed surgical pathways due to torsional deformation and anastomosis offset are investigated. We designed a mock-up total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) circuit to replicate the mechanically failed inferior vena cava (IVC) anastomosis morphologies under physiological venous pressure (9, 12, 15 mmHg), in vitro, employing the commonly used conduit materials: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Dacron, and porcine pericardium. The sensitivity of hemodynamic performance to torsional deformation for three different twist angles (0 deg, 30 deg, and 60 deg) and three different caval offsets (0 diameter (D), 0.5D, and 1D) are digitized in three dimensions and employed in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to determine the corresponding hydrodynamic efficiency levels. A total of 81 deformed conduit configurations are analyzed; the pressure drop values increased from 80 to 1070% with respect to the ideal uniform diameter IVC conduit flow. The investigated surgical materials resulted in significant variations in terms of flow separation and energy loss. For example, the porcine pericardium resulted in a pressure drop that was eight times greater than the Dacron conduit. Likewise, PTFE conduit resulted in a pressure drop that was three times greater than the Dacron conduit under the same venous pressure loading. If anastomosis twist and/or caval offset cannot be avoided intraoperatively due to the anatomy of the patient, alternative conduit materials with high structural stiffness and less influence on hemodynamics can be considered.

Dysphagia in infants with single ventricle anatomy following stage 1 palliation: Physiologic correlates and response to treatment

BACKGROUND

Deficits in swallowing physiology are a leading morbidity for infants with functional single ventricles and systemic outflow tract obstruction following stage 1 palliation. Despite the high prevalence of this condition, the underlying deficits that cause this post-operative impairment remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

Identify the physiologic correlates of dysphagia in infants with functional single ventricles and systemic outflow tract obstruction following stage 1 palliative surgery.

METHODS

Postoperative fiberoptic laryngoscopies and videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were conducted sequentially on infants with functional single ventricles following stage 1 palliative surgery. Infants were dichotomized as having normal or impaired laryngeal function based on laryngoscopy findings. VFSS were evaluated frame-by-frame using a scale that quantifies performance within 11 components of swallowing physiology. Physiologic attributes within each component were categorized as high functioning or low functioning based on their ability to support milk ingestion without bolus airway entry.

RESULTS

Thirty-six infants (25 male) were included in the investigation. Twenty-four underwent the Norwood procedure and twelve underwent the Hybrid procedure. Low function physiologic patterns were observed within multiple swallowing components during the ingestion of thin barium as characterized by ≥4 sucks per swallow (36%), initiation of pharyngeal swallow below the level of the valleculae (83%), and incomplete late laryngeal vestibular closure (56%) at the height of the swallow. Swallowing deficits contributed to aspiration in 50% of infants. Although nectar thick liquids reduced the rate of aspiration (P = .006), aspiration rates remained high (27%). No differences in rates of penetration or aspiration were observed between infants with normal and impaired laryngeal function.

CONCLUSIONS

Deficits in swallowing physiology contribute to penetration and aspiration following stage 1 palliation among infants with normal and impaired laryngeal function. Although thickened liquids may improve airway protection for select infants, they may inhibit their ability to extract the bolus and meet nutritional needs.

Validity and reliability of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and Adolescents (PAQ-A) in individuals with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the criterion validity, internal consistency, reliability and cut-point for the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and Adolescents (PAQ-A) in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease-a special population at high cardiovascular risk in whom physical activity has not been extensively evaluated.

METHODS

We included 84 participants (13.6±2.9 yrs, 50% female) with simple (37%), moderate (31%), or severe congenital heart disease (27%), as well as cardiac transplant recipients (6%), from BC Children's Hospital, Canada. They completed the PAQ-C (≤11yrs, n = 28) or-A (≥12yrs, n = 56), and also wore a triaxial accelerometer (GT3X+ or GT9X) over the right hip for 7 days (n = 59 met valid wear time criteria).

RESULTS

Median daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 46.9 minutes per day (IQR 31.6-61.8) and 25% met physical activity guidelines defined as ≥60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Median PAQ-score was 2.6 (IQR 1.9-3.0). PAQ-Scores were significantly related to accelerometry-derived metrics of physical activity (rho = 0.44-0.55, all p<0.01) and sedentary behaviour (rho = -0.53, p<0.001). Internal consistency was high (α = 0.837), as was reliability (stability) of PAQ-Scores over a 4-months period (ICC = 0.73, 95%CI 0.55-0.84; p<0.001). We identified that a PAQ-Score cut-point of 2.87 discriminates between those meeting physical guidelines and those that do not in the combined PAQ-C and-A samples (area under the curve = 0.80 (95%CI 0.67-0.92).

CONCLUSION

Validity and reliability of the PAQ in children and adolescents with CHD was comparable to or stronger than previous studies in healthy children. Therefore, the PAQ may be used to estimate general levels of physical activity in children and adolescents with CHD.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Children With Congenital Heart Disease

Background

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are thought to have low levels of physical activity (PA), but few studies have used objective measures of PA in this population.

Methods and Results

We recruited patients with mild, moderate, and severe CHD and cardiac transplant recipients, aged 8 to 19 years, from pediatric cardiology clinics throughout British Columbia and Yukon, Canada. Participants were fitted with an ActiGraph accelerometer to be worn over the right hip for 7 days. Daily means were estimated for a variety of accelerometry‐derived metrics, including moderate‐to‐vigorous PA and percentage of sedentary time if they had at least 3 valid days of accelerometry data. Participants also completed a PA questionnaire. We included 90 participants (aged 13.6±2.7 years; 54% male), of which 26 had mild CHD, 26 had moderate CHD, 29 had severe CHD, and 9 were cardiac transplant recipients. Median daily moderate‐to‐vigorous PA was 43 min/day (interquartile range: 28.9–56.9 min/day), and 8% met PA guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate‐to‐vigorous PA at least 6 days a week. There were no significant differences in any accelerometry‐derived metric according to CHD severity. Boys were significantly more active and less sedentary than girls. Activity declined and sedentary behaviors increased with age in both sexes. Sports participation was common, including competitive out‐of‐school clubs (57%). PA restrictions from cardiologists were rare (15%).

Conclusions

We found normal age–sex patterns of PA in children with CHD. There were no differences in PA by CHD severity, suggesting that sociocultural factors are likely important determinants of PA in these children.

African-American:White Disparity in Infant Mortality due to Congenital Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE

To determine the importance of infant factors, maternal prenatal care use, and demographic characteristics in explaining the racial disparity in infant (age <365 days) mortality due to congenital heart defects (CHD).

STUDY DESIGN

In this cross-sectional population-based study, stratified and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on the 2003-2004 National Center for Health Statistics linked live birth-infant death cohort files of term infants with non-Hispanic white (n = 3 684 569) and African-American (n = 782 452) US-born mothers. Infant mortality rate, including its neonatal (<28 day) and postneonatal (28-364 day) components, due to CHD was the outcome measured.

RESULTS

The infant mortality rate due to CHD for African-American infants (296 deaths; 3.78 per 10 000 live births) exceeded that of white infants (1025 deaths; 2.78 per 10 000 live births) (relative risk [RR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.20-1.55). The racial disparity was wider in the postneonatal period (2.08 per 10 000 vs 1.42 per 10 000; RR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.29-1.83) compared with the neonatal period (1.70 per 10 000 vs 1.44 per 10 000; RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99-1.45). Compared with white mothers, African-American mothers had a higher percentage of high-risk characteristics. In multivariable logistic regression models, the adjusted OR of postneonatal and neonatal mortality due to CHD for African-American mothers compared with white mothers was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.98-1.48) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.77-1.19), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The racial disparity in infant mortality rate due to CHD among term infants with US-born mothers is driven predominately by the postneonatal survival disadvantage of African-American infants. Commonly cited individual-level risk factors partly explain this phenomenon. The study is limited by the lack of information on neighborhood factors.

Trends in pediatric echocardiography and the yield for congenital heart disease in a major cardiac referral hospital in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common condition in children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where it is associated with poor outcomes. Diagnosis of CHD in SSA depends essentially on echocardiography, which is available only in few urban referral centers. Our aim was to assess time changes in the pattern of referral for pediatric echocardiography and the subsequent diagnosis of structural CHD in a major SSA city.

METHODS

All pediatric echocardiography performed between 2004 and 2013 at the echocardiography laboratory of the Yaounde General Hospital were reviewed. The primary indication of the study and the presence of structural CHD were recorded.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2013, 9,390 echocardiograms were performed and 834 (8.9%) children aged 1 day to 15 years underwent echocardiography at the center, and 227 (27.2%) cases of definite structural CHD were diagnosed, with 123 (54.2%) in boys. The most frequent indications for echocardiography were heart murmurs (40%) and the suspicion of CHD (37.4%). The commonest CHD was ventricular septal defect (VSD) (30%) with tetralogy of Fallot being the most frequent cyanotic heart lesion (5.3%). The proportion of pediatric echocardiography decreased from 13.3% in 2004-2005 to 6.1% in 2012-2013 (P=0.001) but not in a linear fashion (P=0.072 for linear trend).The diagnosis of structural CHD increased from 25.1% in 2004-2005 to 27.1% in 2012-2013. This increase however was non-significant (P=0.523) and did not follow a linear trend (P=0.230).

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of referral for pediatric echocardiography at this center has changed over time, but diagnosis of structural CHD has remained the same. Improving access to this diagnostic procedure and subsequent treatment of diagnosed CHD will help improving the outcome of the disease in this setting.

Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

With improved surgical techniques and medical management for patients with congenital heart diseases, more patients are living longer and well into adulthood. This improved survival comes with a price of increased morbidity, mainly secondary to increased risk of tachyarrhythmias. One of the major arrhythmias commonly encountered in this subset of cardiac patients is AF. Similar to the general population, the risk of AF increases with advancing age, and is mainly secondary to the abnormal anatomy, abnormal pressure and volume parameters in the hearts of these patients and to the increased scarring and inflammation seen in the left atrium following multiple surgical procedures. Catheter ablation for AF has been shown to be a very effective treatment modality in patients with refractory AF. However, data and guidelines regarding catheter ablation in patients with congenital heart disease are not well established. This review will shed light on the procedural techniques, success rates and complications of AF catheter ablation in patients with different types of CHD, including atrial septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, persistent left superior vena cava, heterotaxy syndrome and atrial isomerism, and Ebstein anomaly.

Twenty-five-year survival for aboriginal and caucasian children with congenital heart defects in Western Australia, 1980 to 2010

BACKGROUND

Australian Aboriginal children have increased infant and childhood mortality compared with Caucasian children, but their mortality related to congenital heart defects (CHDs) throughout life is unknown.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data on 8,110 live born, singleton infants with CHDs born January 1980 to December 2010 from the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies. Vital status was determined from death and medical records. Data for infants with chromosomal anomalies (except Down syndrome) were excluded. Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed by Aboriginality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated from multivariable Cox-Proportional Hazard Regression models.

RESULTS

Aboriginal children had lower survival than Caucasians for all CHDs combined but most notably during the neonatal period for functional single ventricle (50.0% vs. 86.1%; p = 0.015) and during the postneonatal period for tetralogy of Fallot (87.0% vs. 97.4%; p = 0.021) and atrioventricular septal defect (60.0% vs. 94.6%; p = 0.010). After adjusting for covariates except remoteness and socioeconomic status (SES), Aboriginal children with all CHDs combined (HR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9), with transposition of the great arteries (HR = 4.3; 95% CI, 1.0-18.9) or functional single ventricle (HR = 8.6; 95% CI, 1.3-57.9) had increased risk of mortality compared with Caucasian children. When remoteness and SES were included, the risks were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Long-term survival was lower for Aboriginal children with CHDs, and Aboriginal children with specific CHD phenotypes had increased risk of mortality throughout life. Increased risk may be due to SES and environmental factors. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:1016-1031, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of MYH6 variants in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a clinically and anatomically severe form of congenital heart disease (CHD). Although prior studies suggest that HLHS has a complex genetic inheritance, its etiology remains largely unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize a risk gene in HLHS and its effect on HLHS etiology and outcome. We performed next-generation sequencing on a multigenerational family with a high prevalence of CHD/HLHS, identifying a rare variant in the α-myosin heavy chain (MYH6) gene. A case-control study of 190 unrelated HLHS subjects was then performed and compared with the 1000 Genomes Project. Damaging MYH6 variants, including novel, missense, in-frame deletion, premature stop, de novo, and compound heterozygous variants, were significantly enriched in HLHS cases (P < 1 × 10⁻⁵). Clinical outcomes analysis showed reduced transplant-free survival in HLHS subjects with damaging MYH6 variants (P < 1 × 10⁻²). Transcriptome and protein expression analyses with cardiac tissue revealed differential expression of cardiac contractility genes, notably upregulation of the β-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) gene in subjects with MYH6 variants (P < 1 × 10⁻³). We subsequently used patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model HLHS in vitro. Early stages of in vitro cardiomyogenesis in iPSCs derived from two unrelated HLHS families mimicked the increased expression of MYH7 observed in vivo (P < 1 × 10⁻²), while revealing defective cardiomyogenic differentiation. Rare, damaging variants in MYH6 are enriched in HLHS, affect molecular expression of contractility genes, and are predictive of poor outcome. These findings indicate that the etiology of MYH6-associated HLHS can be informed using iPSCs and suggest utility in future clinical applications.

Proportion of selected congenital heart defects attributable to recognized risk factors

PURPOSE

To assess the contribution of multiple risk factors for two congenital heart defects-hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

METHODS

We used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2011) to estimate average adjusted population attributable fractions for several recognized risk factors, including maternal prepregnancy overweight-obesity, pregestational diabetes, age, and infant sex.

RESULTS

There were 594 cases of isolated simple HLHS, 971 cases of isolated simple TOF, and 11,829 controls in the analysis. Overall, 57.0% of HLHS cases and 37.0% of TOF cases were estimated to be attributable to risk factors included in our model. Among modifiable HLHS risk factors, maternal prepregnancy overweight-obesity accounted for the largest proportion of cases (6.5%). Among modifiable TOF risk factors, maternal prepregnancy overweight-obesity and maternal age of 35 years or older accounted for the largest proportions of cases (8.3% and 4.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of HLHS cases and one-third of TOF cases were estimated to be attributable to risk factors included in our models. Interventions targeting factors that can be modified may help reduce the risk of HLHS and TOF development. Additional research into the etiology of HLHS and TOF may reveal other modifiable risk factors that might contribute to primary prevention efforts.

Indigenous Ethnicity and Low Maternal Education Are Associated with Delayed Diagnosis and Mortality in Infants with Congenital Heart Defects in Panama

Background

This is the first study in Panama and Central America that has included indigenous populations in an assessment of the association between socioeconomic variables with delayed diagnosis and mortality due to congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted. A sample calculation was performed and 954 infants born from 2010 to 2014 were randomly selected from clinical records of all Panamanian public health institutions with paediatric cardiologists. Critical CHD was defined according to the defects listed as targets of newborn pulse oximetry screening. Diagnoses were considered delayed when made after the third day of life for the critical CHD and after the twentieth day of life for the non-critical. A logistic regression model was performed to examine the association between socioeconomic variables and delayed diagnosis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relationship between socioeconomic features and mortality.

Results

An increased risk of delayed diagnosis was observed in infants with indigenous ethnicity (AOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03–2.37), low maternal education (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.09–2.25) and homebirth (AOR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.63–11.48). Indigenous infants had a higher risk of dying due to CHD (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03–1.99), as did those with low maternal education (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.45–2.62).

Conclusion

Inequalities in access to health care, conditioned by unfavourable socioeconomic features, may play a key role in delayed diagnosis and mortality of CHD patients. Further studies are required to study the relationship between indigenous ethnicity and these adverse health outcomes.

Clinical Pharmacology Studies in Critically Ill Children

Developmental and physiological changes in children contribute to variation in drug disposition with age. Additionally, critically ill children suffer from various life-threatening conditions that can lead to pathophysiological alterations that further affect pharmacokinetics (PK). Some factors that can alter PK in this patient population include variability in tissue distribution caused by protein binding changes and fluid shifts, altered drug elimination due to organ dysfunction, and use of medical interventions that can affect drug disposition (e.g., extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous renal replacement therapy). Performing clinical studies in critically ill children is challenging because there is large inter-subject variability in the severity and time course of organ dysfunction; some critical illnesses are rare, which can affect subject enrollment; and critically ill children usually have multiple organ failure, necessitating careful selection of a study design. As a result, drug dosing in critically ill children is often based on extrapolations from adults or non-critically ill children. Dedicated clinical studies in critically ill children are urgently needed to identify optimal dosing of drugs in this vulnerable population. This review will summarize the effect of critical illness on pediatric PK, the challenges associated with performing studies in this vulnerable subpopulation, and the clinical PK studies performed to date for commonly used drugs.

Pulmonary Valve Replacement With a Trifecta Valve Is Associated With Reduced Transvalvular Gradient

BACKGROUND

Outcomes after surgical pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with congenital cardiac disease are limited by long-term valve deterioration, which may be hastened by turbulent flow. The use of the Trifecta valve (St. Jude Medical, Little Canada, MN) at our institution (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC) appears to result in low postimplantation transvalvular gradients. This study was performed to compare the early transvalvular gradient associated with the Trifecta valve with that associated with two other valves commonly used for PVR.

METHODS

We performed a single institution review of patients undergoing PVR with the Perimount valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA), the Biocor valve (St. Jude Medical), or the Trifecta valve between November 1993 and January 2014. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to determine the adjusted association between valve type and transvalvular gradient as determined by early postoperative echocardiography.

RESULTS

A total of 186 patients met study criteria; 54 (29%) received a Biocor valve, 87 (47%) received a Perimount valve, and 45 (24%) received a Trifecta valve. There were no baseline differences among the groups, but the peak transvalvular gradient was significantly decreased among patients with the Trifecta valve. After adjustment for age, valve size, patients' weight, and time to the assessment, as compared with the Trifecta valve, the Biocor valve was associated with a 57% higher peak valve gradient (p < 0.01), whereas the Perimount valve was associated with a 26% higher peak valve gradient (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

PVR for congenital heart disease with the Trifecta bioprosthetic valve is associated with a reduced early transvalvular gradient. This finding may be associated with reduced valve deterioration over time.

Timing of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination after cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

The best time for vaccination in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery is unclear, but it is important to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection in infants with CHD after CPB surgery. To identify the best time for Hib vaccination in infants with CHD after CPB surgery, we investigated the immunological status, and the efficacy and safety of Hib vaccination after CPB surgery.

METHODS

Sixteen subjects who underwent surgical correction of ventricular septal defect with CPB were investigated. Immunological status and cytokines were analyzed before surgery, 2 months after surgery, and before Hib booster vaccination. Hib-specific IgG was also measured to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination.

RESULTS

Immunological status before and 2 months after surgery (e.g. whole blood cells and lymphocyte subset profile) was within the normal range and no subjects had hypercytokinemia. Additionally, all subjects who received Hib vaccination at 2-3 months after CPB surgery had effective serum Hib-specific IgG level for protection against Hib infection without any side-effects.

CONCLUSIONS

CPB surgery does not influence acquired immunity and Hib vaccination may be immunologically safe to perform at 2 months after CPB surgery. Hib vaccination at 2-3 months after CPB surgery was effective in achieving immunization for infants with simple left-right shunt-type CHD.

Outcomes Analysis and Quality Improvement in Children With Congenital and Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

OBJECTIVES

In this review, the current state of outcomes analysis and quality improvement in children with acquired and congenital cardiovascular disease will be discussed, with an emphasis on defining and measuring outcomes and quality in pediatric cardiac critical care medicine and risk stratification systems.

DATA SOURCE

MEDLINE and PubMed

CONCLUSION

: Measuring quality and outcomes in the pediatric cardiac critical care environment is challenging owing to many inherent obstacles, including a diverse patient mix, difficulty in determining how the care of the ICU team contributes to outcomes, and the lack of an adequate risk-adjustment method for pediatric cardiac critical care patients. Despite these barriers, new solutions are emerging that capitalize on lessons learned from other quality improvement initiatives, providing opportunities to build upon previous successes.

The Current Landscape of Genetic Testing in Cardiovascular Malformations: Opportunities and Challenges

Human cardiovascular malformations (CVMs) frequently have a genetic contribution. Through the application of novel technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, DNA sequence variants associated with CVMs are being identified at a rapid pace. While clinicians are now able to offer testing with NGS gene panels or whole exome sequencing to any patient with a CVM, the interpretation of genetic variation remains problematic. Variable phenotypic expression, reduced penetrance, inconsistent phenotyping methods, and the lack of high-throughput functional testing of variants contribute to these challenges. This article elaborates critical issues that impact the decision to broadly implement clinical molecular genetic testing in CVMs. Major benefits of testing include establishing a genetic diagnosis, facilitating cost-effective screening of family members who may have subclinical disease, predicting recurrence risk in offsprings, enabling early diagnosis and anticipatory management of CV and non-CV disease phenotypes, predicting long-term outcomes, and facilitating the development of novel therapies aimed at disease improvement or prevention. Limitations include financial cost, psychosocial cost, and ambiguity of interpretation of results. Multiplex families and patients with syndromic features are two groups where disease causation could potentially be firmly established. However, these account for the minority of the overall CVM population, and there is increasing recognition that genotypes previously associated with syndromes also exist in patients who lack non-CV findings. In all circumstances, ongoing dialog between cardiologists and clinical geneticists will be needed to accurately interpret genetic testing and improve these patients’ health. This may be most effectively implemented by the creation and support of CV genetics services at centers committed to pursuing testing for patients.

Current Management of Ebstein's Anomaly in the Adult

OPINION STATEMENT

Ebstein's anomaly is a congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve and the right heart with a spectrum of clinical and morphologic presentations. Minor anomalies of the tricuspid valve may not be recognized until adulthood whereas major anomalies leading to heart failure and cyanosis require surgical intervention earlier in life. Echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice for both diagnosis and management of patients with Ebstein's anomaly. Surgical correction includes tricuspid valve repair or replacement and associated findings such as interatrial communications and arrhythmias should be addressed at the time of surgery. Pre-pregnancy evaluation should be considered in all Ebstein's anomaly patients and for those who are cyanotic, surgical correction must be considered due to the maternal and fetal ramifications of cyanosis in pregnancy. Most acyanotic Ebstein's anomaly patients are able to tolerate pregnancy with manageable or no complications. Those patients with mild anomalies and no right heart dilation can participate in sports whereas those with severe anomalies are discouraged from competitive sports. Physical activity as tolerated is important in all patients with adult congenital heart disease. Adult congenital heart specialists should evaluate patients prior to cardiac or noncardiac surgery. Longitudinal clinical follow-up in all Ebstein's anomaly patients (both repaired and unrepaired) is warranted to follow for signs and symptoms of heart failure, arrhythmias, cyanosis, and other associated findings. This should be ideally performed in collaboration with an adult congenital heart center of excellence.

Congenital Heart Defects in the United States: Estimating the Magnitude of the Affected Population in 2010

BACKGROUND

Because of advancements in care, there has been a decline in mortality from congenital heart defects (CHDs) over the past several decades. However, there are no current empirical data documenting the number of people living with CHDs in the United States. Our aim was to estimate the CHD prevalence across all age groups in the United States in the year 2010.

METHODS

The age-, sex-, and severity-specific observed prevalence of CHDs in Québec, Canada, in the year 2010 was assumed to equal the CHD prevalence in the non-Hispanic white population in the United States in 2010. A race-ethnicity adjustment factor, reflecting differential survival between racial-ethnic groups through 5 years of age for individuals with a CHD and that in the general US population, was applied to the estimated non-Hispanic white rates to derive CHD prevalence estimates among US non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. Confidence intervals for the estimated CHD prevalence rates and case counts were derived from a combination of Taylor series approximations and Monte Carlo simulation.

RESULTS

We estimated that ≈2.4 million people (1.4 million adults, 1 million children) were living with CHDs in the United States in 2010. Nearly 300 000 of these individuals had severe CHDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our estimates highlight the need for 2 important efforts: planning for health services delivery to meet the needs of the growing population of adults with CHD and the development of surveillance data across the life span to provide empirical estimates of the prevalence of CHD across all age groups in the United States.

Critical cardiac care in children: looking backward and looking forward

The growth of Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care as a subspecialty has been incredible. Outcomes have improved, care delivery has matured, and research has made advances. Within this review, we take the opportunity to examine the subspecialty's past accomplishments with pride, take stock in its current state, and look forward with excitement to its future. While outcomes in general have improved dramatically, we must always be aware of the outcomes that matter to families and patients. Additionally, we must constantly ask ourselves to improve. Research into neuroprotection and individual therapeutic strategies based in genomic medicine provide the next opportunity for the subspecialty to improve.

Genetic Evaluation and Use of Chromosome Microarray in Patients with Isolated Heart Defects: Benefits and Challenges of a New Model in Cardiovascular Care

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are common birth defects and result in significant morbidity and global economic impact. Genetic factors play a role in most CHDs; however, identification of these factors has been historically slow due to technological limitations and incomplete understanding of the impact of human genomic variation on normal and abnormal cardiovascular development. The advent of chromosome microarray (CMA) brought tremendous gains in identifying chromosome abnormalities in a variety of human disorders and is now considered part of a standard evaluation for individuals with multiple congenital anomalies and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. Several studies investigating use of CMA found that this technology can identify pathogenic copy-number variations (CNVs) in up to 15-20% of patients with CHDs with other congenital anomalies. However, there have been fewer studies exploring the use of CMA for patients with isolated CHDs. Recent studies have shown that the diagnostic yield of CMA in individuals with seemingly isolated CHD is lower than in individuals with CHDs and additional anomalies. Nevertheless, positive CMA testing in this group supports chromosome variation as one mechanism underlying the development of isolated, non-syndromic CHD - either as a causative or risk-influencing genetic factor. CMA has also identified novel genomic variation in CHDs, shedding light on candidate genes and pathways involved in cardiac development and malformations. Additional studies are needed to further address this issue. Early genetic diagnosis can enhance the medical management of patients and potentially provide crucial information about recurrence. This information is critical for genetic counseling of patients and family members. In this review, we review CMA for the non-genetics cardiology provider, offer a summary of CNV in isolated CHDs, and advocate for the use of CMA as part of the cardiovascular genetics evaluation of patients with isolated CHDs. We also provide perspective regarding the benefits and challenges that lie ahead for this model in the clinical setting.