Adult congenital heart diseases: 10-years study in patients treated at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina

Introduction. The number of adult patients with a congenital heart defect (adult congenital heart disease - ACHD) is higher than children born with the defect. The study aimed to examine the characteristics of patients with ACHD treated over a 10-year period at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina (ICVDV). Methods. A retrospective cohort study included patients examined and treated under the diagnosis of congenital heart defect at IKVBV from 2011 to 2021. Patients with ACHD were identified by searching the electronic database based on the ICD classification. In the examined group, we evaluated demographic characteristics, the presence of comorbidities, and complications that developed during follow-up in a predefined time period. Results. Out of 106123 patients treated during the 10-year period, 0.8% were diagnosed with ACHD. The most frequently registered ACHD were atrial septal defect (ASD) with 49.1%, ventricular septal defect with 13.1%, congenital anomalies of the aortic valve 10%, and coarctation with aorta narrowing 6.2%. In comparison, complex defects like tetralogy of Fallot with 2.7% and transpositions of great arteries (1.2%) had lower prevalence. The most prevalent complications were heart rhythm disturbances in 44% and pulmonary hypertension in 15.2% of ACHD patients. The most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (46.7%) and ischemic heart disease (20.5%). Conclusion. The prevalence of ACHD was 0.8%. The most prevalent defects were from the group of septal defects. The most prevalent complications were heart rhythm disorders and pulmonary hypertension.