Post-Traumatic Distress in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: an Under-Recognized Complication?

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 203; pp. 9 - 16
• Main Authors: Freiberger, Annika, Richter, Cristina, Huber, Maximilian, Beckmann, Jürgen, Freilinger, Sebastian, Kaemmerer, Harald, Ewert, Peter, Kohls, Niko, Henningsen, Peter, Allwang, Christine, Andonian-Dierks, Caroline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15-09-2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adults; Anxiety; Cardiology; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Classification; Cognitive ability; Congenital diseases; Consent; Coronary artery disease; Heart; Heart diseases; Medical records; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Patients; Physiology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychological stress; Psychotherapy; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Signs and symptoms; Sociodemographics
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.06.087

The stressful and potentially traumatic perception of repeated hospitalization, outpatient check-ups, and medical interventions places a high stress burden on patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). These experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PTSSs in adults with CHD (ACHDs) and to identify the associated risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, 234 ACHDs were recruited from November 2021 to August 2022 at a dedicated tertiary care center. Data were collected on general health, anxiety and depression, PTSSs, and on quality of life using validated and standardized questionnaires. In addition, the reasons for PTSSs were assessed using free-text responses. Overall, 17.1% to 20.5% (mean age: 35.2 ± 10.8 [18 to 66] years, 46.6% women) of the enrolled patients met the criteria for clinically relevant PTSSs related to their CHD or treatment. The associated risk factors (p <0.05) included preexisting mental distress (odds ratio [OR] 4.86), depression (OR 5.565) and anxiety (OR 3.36,), level of perceived mental distress during the traumatic event (OR 1.46), and number of medical procedures (OR 1.17). In addition, a worse clinical state was associated with more PTSSs (p = 0.018). Using free-text responses, the various reasons for PTSSs were identified, ranging from cardiac procedures to social stigma. In conclusion, the high prevalence of PTSSs calls for increased awareness of PTSSs in ACHDs in cardiovascular care. PTSSs and their associated disorder can adversely affect the manifestation and progression of cardiac disease. Thus, it is necessary to reflect upon psychocardiac prevention and intervention as an integral part of multidisciplinary cardiac care.