Key result
Patients who underwent congenital heart surgery had a sudden cardiac death incidence of 7 per 10,000 person-years, with standardized mortality ratios ranging from 8.0 to 107.7 versus the general population.
Why the study?
Sudden cardiac death is a significant concern among patients with congenital heart disease, prompting an assessment of the risk of remote sudden cardiac death after congenital heart surgery.
What is the long-term risk of sudden cardiac death in patients who underwent congenital heart surgery in childhood compared to the general population?
Population
30,566 patients discharged after initial congenital heart surgery before 21 years of age
Comparison
Congenital heart surgery patients vs the general population
Design
Registry-based retrospective cohort study
Follow-up
Median 23 years (IQR 19-27)
Authors
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Elevated long-term SCD risk across CHD severities supports lifelong surveillance; leaves optimal stratification and prevention strategies open.
Cohort (n=30,566)
Yes
What is the long-term risk of sudden cardiac death in patients who underwent congenital heart surgery in childhood compared to the general population?
Patients who underwent congenital heart surgery in childhood have a significantly elevated long-term risk of sudden cardiac death compared to the general population, even for mild lesions.
Needleman et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Congenital heart disease (n=30,566). Congenital heart surgery vs. General population was evaluated on Sudden cardiac death. Patients who underwent congenital heart surgery had a sudden cardiac death incidence of 7 per 10,000 person-years, with standardized mortality ratios ranging from 8.0 to 107.7 versus the general population.
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