Heart failure in adult congenital heart disease: Emerging Concepts with a Focus on Tetralogy of Fallot

Emerging heart failure (HF) concepts in the growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are reviewed in the following article with a focus on individuals with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the largest group of adults with repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). In the first section, the changing epidemiology of CHD and HF in ACHD patients is described. We demonstrate the challenges health care providers face when caring for this unique population. Emphasis is placed on the importance and difficulty of identifying patients at risk for HF, of which TOF patients comprise a substantial subset, underscoring the benefits of specialized cardiac care.

Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 3, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rachel M Wald, Anne Marie Valente, Ariane Marelli Source Type: research