Preventing cardiovascular complications in adults with congenital heart disease: predictors and outcomes of the levels of follow-up care - Summary - MDSpire

Preventing cardiovascular complications in adults with congenital heart disease: predictors and outcomes of the levels of follow-up care

  • By

  • Fouke Ombelet

  • Ruben Willems

  • Steffen Fieuws

  • Eva Goossens

  • Katya De Groote

  • Werner Budts

  • Stéphane Moniotte

  • Michèle de Hosson

  • Liesbet Van Bulck

  • Julie De Backer

  • Lieven Annemans

  • Ariane Marelli

  • Philip Moons

  • BELCODAC consortium

  • Lieven Annemans

  • Werner Budts

  • Julie De Backer

  • Katya De Groote

  • Michèle de Hosson

  • Daniel De Wolf

  • Marc Gewillig

  • Eva Goossens

  • Chris Leyman

  • Stéphane Moniotte

  • Philip Moons

  • Fouke Ombelet

  • Agnes Pasquet

  • Thierry Sluysmans

  • Liesbet Van Bulck

  • Alexander Van De Bruaene

  • Ruben Willems

  • December 16, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the levels of follow-up care for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients in Belgium, including predictors and outcomes associated with specialized ACHD care, non-specialized ACHD care, no cardiac follow-up, and no follow-up.

Key Findings:
  • Only 19% of patient-years involved specialized ACHD care, while 25% had non-specialized follow-up, 53% had non-cardiac follow-up, and 3% had no follow-up.
  • Only 52% of patients with complex defects received follow-up in specialized ACHD care.
  • Predictors for higher levels of follow-up included male sex, genetic syndrome, and no history of intervention.
  • Specialized ACHD care was protective against heart failure and myocardial ischaemia.
  • Any cardiac follow-up was protective against myocardial ischaemia and thromboembolic events.
Interpretation:

Regular cardiac follow-up, particularly in specialized ACHD centres, significantly reduces the risk of serious complications such as heart failure and thromboembolic events in ACHD patients, highlighting the importance of any cardiac follow-up.

Limitations:
  • The study is based on data from three hospitals in Belgium, which may limit generalizability.
  • The reliance on existing databases may introduce biases related to data completeness and accuracy.
Conclusion:

The study underscores the critical importance of appropriate follow-up care in managing the health outcomes of adults with congenital heart disease.

Original Source(s)

Preventing cardiovascular complications in adults with congenital heart disease: predictors and outcomes of the levels of follow-up care

  • by Fouke Ombelet, Ruben Willems, Steffen Fieuws, Eva Goossens, Katya De Groote, Werner Budts, Stéphane Moniotte, Michèle de Hosson, Liesbet Van Bulck, Julie De Backer, Lieven Annemans, Ariane Marelli, Philip Moons, BELCODAC consortium, Lieven Annemans, Werner Budts, Julie De Backer, Katya De Groote, Michèle de Hosson, Daniel De Wolf, Marc Gewillig, Eva Goossens, Chris Leyman, Stéphane Moniotte, Philip Moons, Fouke Ombelet, Agnes Pasquet, Thierry Sluysmans, Liesbet Van Bulck, Alexander Van De Bruaene, Ruben Willems

  • December 16, 2025

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