Congenital heart disease in adults

Heart disease is the most common birth defect, affecting nine in 1000 babies born in the United Kingdom. The spectrum of the underlying lesions ranges from a simple septal defect to more complex structural abnormalities. Most of those born with cardiac defects lead active lives and survive well into late adulthood. These adults with congenital heart disease have often had previous surgical corrections or percutaneous catheter treatments and are left with residual structural defects, valve lesions, or ventricular dysfunction. Most therefore require lifelong specialist congenital cardiology follow-up to identify when re-interventions are necessary. Those with highly complex disease are usually reviewed annually, with the frequency of follow-up determined by clinical status and severity of any residual problems.

NHS England has recently completed a review on the care of patients with congenital heart disease.1 Specialist centres have been evaluated against agreed standards and designated or commissioned accordingly, in order to provide varying levels of care across a geographical network. This review provides practical advice for non-specialists to help understand the longer term problems associated with congenital heart disease and how these are managed.