“Higher Risk of Abnormal Heart Rhythms in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Nearly one in five adults living with congenital heart disease in Israel experienced or developed abnormal heart rhythms during a five-year study, new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals.
The study, encompassing over 11,000 adults with congenital heart disease from 2007 to 2011, underscores the heightened risk of hospitalization and premature death associated with irregular heart rhythms. Dr. Nili Schamroth-Pravda from the Rabin Medical Center emphasizes the imperative of lifelong clinical monitoring for these individuals, given the increasing prevalence and complications of congenital heart conditions.
Key findings include:
– Approximately 20% of adults with congenital heart disease exhibited irregular heart rhythms at the study’s outset or developed them over five years. – Those experiencing atrial tachyarrhythmia faced a 65% higher risk of premature death, while ventricular tachyarrhythmia doubled the risk compared to those without irregular heartbeats. – Patients with recent abnormal heart rhythms had up to a 33% higher hospitalization rate than those without.
Surgical scar tissue in the heart, even post-repair of congenital defects, may heighten the risk of arrhythmias later in life. Early detection and management of these arrhythmias are critical, emphasizing the need for improved treatment strategies and preventative measures to reduce complications and hospitalizations.
This study sheds light on a previously understudied population and underscores the importance of tailored monitoring and care for adults with congenital heart disease.”