Key result
A holistic ACHD approach prioritizes enhancing QoL and managing acquired diseases over just prolonging survival.
Why the study?
As adults with congenital heart disease live longer, medical care needs to shift from simply prolonging life to enhancing quality of life, overall well-being, and addressing acquired disease.
Highlights the need for a holistic approach to the care of adults with congenital heart disease, focusing on quality of life and management of acquired comorbidities.
May prompt QoL-focused ACHD care; challenges survival-centric consensus but leaves open need for prospective validation.
In recent years, remarkable advancements in paediatric cardiology and surgical techniques have dramatically increased the survival of patients with congenital heart disease. As a result, adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are now living longer, and many, despite having residual lesions and sequelae, may have near-normal life expectancy. Adults with congenital heart disease patients should no longer be viewed merely as survivors; instead, medical care should shift its focus from simply prolonging life to enhancing quality of life and overall well-being. Moreover, as ACHD population ages, they are increasingly exposed to a burden of acquired cardiovascular and extracardiac disease, making early intervention on modifiable risk factors a key priority. Herewith, we provide an overview of the multiple aspects that should be considered in this holistic approach to guide everyday issues of ACHD patients, including nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, cancer prevention, respiratory disease, and infective endocarditis.
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Dissel et al. (2025) conducted a review in Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Holistic approach to everyday issues was evaluated. A holistic approach to medical care for adults with congenital heart disease should focus on enhancing quality of life and addressing everyday issues like nutrition and acquired disease prevention.
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