Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease

Objective: Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease than the general population due to their underlying physiology and/or surgical sequelae. We sought to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in youth and adults with CHD. Methods: We assessed cardiovascular health as per the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) health index in patients with CHD aged 15+ years who attended cardiology outpatient clinics. Participants self-reported smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and whether they had diabetes and hypertension. Individual health indices were categorized into ideal/not ideal, and sum of individual health indices was categorized as poor, intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health as per CANHEART criteria. Results: We included n=102 adults (35.4 +/- 12.9 years, 46% female) and n=88 youth (17.2 +/- 1.1 years, 41% female). Most individuals reported to be nonsmokers (88% youth vs 86% adults) and to consume >= 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (83% vs 85%, respectively). More adults than youth were overweight/obese (52% vs 22%, p<0.001) though more adults than youth reported meeting age-specific physical activity guidelines (84% vs 55%, p<0.001). According to CAN-HEART health index criteria, 32% of youth and 27% of adults were in ideal cardiovascular health. Conclusions: A low proportion of individuals with CHD are in ideal cardiovascular health, suggesting a need to promote healthy lifestyles during adolescence and throughout adulthood in these individuals.