Prediction of behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents with operated congenital heart disease

SynopsisBehavioural/emotional problems were assessed at least nine years after surgical correction for congenital heart disease (ConHD) in childhood. Parents of 144 10–15-year-old ConHD-children completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and 179, 11–17-year-old, ConHD-adolescents completed the Youth Self-Report (YSR). On the CBCL and YSR ConHD-children and adolescents obtained significantly higher problem scores than same-aged peers from normative reference groups. No significant differences were found between problem scores for different cardiac diagnostic groups. A negative correlation was found between CBCL total problem scores and IQ-scores of ConHD-children; for YSR total problem scores no such relationship was found.

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Predictors of behavioural and emotional outcomes in toddlers with congenital heart disease

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951121003942 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Elizabeth Jilek ◽

Ashley Shields ◽

Liyun Zhang ◽

Pippa Simpson ◽

Laurel Bear ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Infant Development ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Classification Tree ◽

Emotional Problems ◽

Education Levels ◽

Behavioural And Emotional Problems

Abstract Objectives: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for psychological challenges, including internalising (e.g., depression, anxiety) and externalising (e.g., aggression, inattention) problems. The present study aimed to investigate the development of psychological concerns in early childhood by identifying predictors of behavioural and emotional problems in toddlers with CHD. Methods: Children with CHD who were seen for neurodevelopmental (ND) evaluation at 12 ± 3 months of age, who completed the Bayley Scales of Infant Development–III (BSID-III) and whose parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a standardised measure of emotional/behavioural problems at age 24–36 months, were included in the study (n = 144). CBCL scores were compared to test norms and classified as normal or abnormal. A classification tree was used to assess the association between CBCL scores and demographic and clinical variables. Results: Multi-variable tree analyses revealed lower BSID-III language composite scores at age 9–15 months predicted clinical CBCL internalising (p < 0.001), externalising (p = 0.004) and total scores (p < 0.001) at age 24–36 months. Lower maternal education levels also predicted clinical CBCL internalising (p < 0.0001), externalising (p < 0.001) and total scores (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Lower language abilities and lower maternal education predict increased behavioural and emotional problems in toddlers with CHD. These risk factors should be considered during routine ND evaluations to allow for earlier identification of children with CHD and their families who may benefit from psychological support.

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Pubertal status of children with congenital heart disease

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951121002651 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Zahra Ghaemmaghami ◽

Zahra Khajali ◽

Mohammad Dalili ◽

Zahra Fotovati ◽

Maryam Moradian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Normal Population ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Pubertal Status ◽

Major Aspect ◽

Pubertal Onset ◽

Pubertal Stages

Abstract Background: CHD influences many aspects of life in affected individuals. Puberty, a major aspect of development, is a concern for patients and families. Objectives: We investigated pubertal status in children and adolescents with CHD. Methods: Patients with CHD aged 6–18 were enrolled. Cardiac diagnoses were confirmed using history, examination, and paraclinical tools including echocardiography. An endocrinologist determined pubertal stages, and the second Tanner stages for pubarche (P2), thelarche (B2), and gonadarche (G2) were considered as the pubertal onset. A study with a large sample size on pubertal onset in a normal population was used for comparison. Results: Totally, 451 patients (228 girls and 223 boys) at a median (10th–90th percentile) age of 10.79 (8.02–14.28) years for the girls and 10.72 (8.05–14.03) years for the boys were enrolled. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at B2 and P2 in the girls with CHD were 10.77 (9.55–12.68) and 10.53 (9.39–12.28) years, respectively, which were higher than the median ages of 9.74 (8.23–11.94) and 10.49 (8.86–12.17) years in the normal girls. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at G2 and P2 in the boys with CHD were 11.04 (8.85–13.23) and 11.88 (9.78–13.46) years, correspondingly, which were higher than the median ages of 9.01 (6.00–11.84) and 10.34 (6.84–13.10) years in the normal boys. Conclusions: Pubertal onset could be delayed in children with CHD when compared with the normal population.

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