The global burden of paediatric heart disease

AbstractAn estimated 15 million children die or are crippled annually by treatable or preventable heart disease in low- and middle-income countries. Global efforts to reduce under-5 mortality have focused on reducing death from communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries with little to no attention focusing on paediatric CHD and acquired heart disease. Lack of awareness of CHD and acquired heart disease, access to care, poor healthcare infrastructure, competing health priorities, and a critical shortage of specialists are important reasons why paediatric heart disease has not been addressed in low resourced settings. Non-governmental organisations have taken the lead to address these challenges. This review describes the global burden of paediatric heart disease and strategies to improve the quality of care for paediatric heart disease. These strategies would improve outcomes for children with heart disease.

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Emotional quality-of-life and patient-reported limitation in sports participation in children with uncorrected congenital and acquired heart disease in healthcare-restricted settings in low- and middle-income countries

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951120000220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 188-196

Author(s):

Gali S Kolt ◽

Barbara R Ferdman ◽

Jessica Y Choi ◽

Janine Henson ◽

Van-Trang Nguyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Middle Income ◽

Emotional Quality ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Acquired Heart Disease ◽

Low And Middle Income

AbstractBackground:Little is known about emotional quality-of-life in paediatric heart disease in low- and middle-income countries where the prevalence of uncorrected lesions is high. Research on emotional quality-of-life and its predictors in these settings is key to planning interventions.Methods:Ten-year retrospective cross-sectional study of children aged 6–17 years with uncorrected congenital or acquired heart disease in 12 low- and middle-income countries was conducted. Emotional functioning score of the PedsQL TM 4.0 generic core scale and data on patient-reported limitation in sports participation were collected via in-person interview and analysed using regression analyses.Results:Ninety-four children reported mean emotional functioning scores of 71.94 (SD 25.32) [95% CI 66.75–77.13] with lower scores independently associated with having a parent with a chronic illness or who had died (p = 0.005), having less than three siblings (p = 0.007), and reporting a subjective limitation in carrying an item equivalent to a 4 lb load (p = 0.021). Patient-reported limitation in sports participation at least “sometimes” was present in 69% and was independently associated with experiencing symptoms at least once a month (p < 0.001).Conclusion:Some of the factors which were associated with better emotional quality-of-life were similar to those identified in previous studies in patients with corrected defects. Patient-reported limitation in sports participation is common. In addition to corrective surgery and exercise, numerous other interventions which are practicable during surgical missions might improve emotional quality-of-life.

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